About Tendo Valley Teachers College
Tendo Valley Teachers Training College (TVTTC) has since inception in 2011 evolved as a bastion of best teacher education in the Mt. Kenya East region and beyond. Its lush green, neatly landscaped compound offers aconducivelearning environment for those aspiring to be teachers.
The college compound has manicured lawns, paths lined with well-trimmed different types of flowers, indigenous and exotic trees as well as fruit trees including mangoes, oranges and paw paws among other juicy fruits.
During their free time and over the weekends, Tendo Valley College students are found relaxing within the soothing college compound, while reading as they lie on the green manicured lawns or under tree shades.
The college is located about one hundred meters from Meru National Park Murera Gate that attracts tourists from far and wide.
The college was the brainchild of Reverend Misheck Kanake of the Methodist Church of Kenya and one of the renowned local education crusaders in the entire Nyambene region.
“No one forces TendoValley College students to read over the weekends or during their free time; but they are enticed to do so by the serene conducive learning environment,” the experienced College Principal, Mr Murithi Mutiria told Education Newsrecently during an interview in his office.
“Last year (2016) we conducted our first ever graduation ceremony in which over 200 students successfully graduated in various courses they had trained for during their stay at the college,” he explains.
“The college has a modern library, computer lab, large male and female dorms, modern administration block, big lecture halls and a modern dining hall with modern kitchen. A store is under construction and almost complete,” Mr Mutiria observed.
“Tendo TTC tutors are all young and energetic university graduates led by the Principal, Mr. Murithi Mutiria and his deputy who is an expert in music and physical education (PE),” said the premier institution’s founder Reverend MisheckKanake, who is also the College Director.
Rev. Kanake told Education News that during his time as a pupil and all the way to high school he realized there were very few teachers from his local community who could better understand the local children’s unique needs.
After high school in Burieruri, Rev. Kanake joined a theological college and after graduation he went to serve the church outside his community.
“I realized educated people led good lives, brought up well cared for families who were economically stable,” he noted.
When he was posted to serve the church in his community, he found schools in Mt Kenya East region lacked enough local teachers and then embarked on a serious community awareness to start of new schools. “My initial plans were to set up a number of local schools as centers of academic excellence,” he added.
But determined to achieve his dreams despite lack of support by the local community, in 1995 Rev. Kanake started a private academy with a mission to train local kids from early age to aspire for better education as well as training for gainful employment later in life.
“The academy was able to produce pupils who are today well-off in their youthful age and raisingwell catered for families,” he observes.
“The academy was able to send local pupils to various secondary schoolswith most of them aspiring to be teachers.
This prompted me to come up with Tendo Valley Teachers Training College. Plans are underway to turn the TVTTC into a private university after sometime,” Rev Kanake noted.