Education Courses to take Longer over New CBC Requirements; KUCCPS News Today
KUCCPS News Today: Students wishing to pursue degree and diploma education courses will have to undertake the mandatory basic training for new teachers wishing to be employed later by the Teachers Service Commission for a minimum period of five and half years. Besides, the students must meet the new entry requirements for education-related degree courses that encompass (KCSE) mean grade of C+ with a minimum of B- in the three teaching subjects.
TSC Raises the Bar for Bachelor of Education Degrees and Other Education-Related Courses
Students joining universities to pursue the popular Bachelor of Education degrees under the competency-based curriculum (CBC) will be required to study for five and a half years.
Currently, Bachelor of Education degrees take four years.
Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) chief executive Agnes Wahome has written to vice-chancellors in both public and private universities directing them to adjust and review their programmes to align them with new proposals from the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
In February, the placement board received the new proposals touching on the new placement criteria for students wishing to pursue education-related courses owing to the roll-out of the new CBC curriculum that is set to be implemented in secondary schools starting February 2023.
TSC Raises the Number of Teaching Subjects for Teachers under CBC
According to TSC Chief Executive Officer, CEO Dr. Nancy Macharia, each student wishing to pursue education should train in three subjects as opposed to the current two- two major subjects and one minor subject.
“Each student pursuing education should have three teaching subjects, (two major subjects and one minor) for cost-effectiveness and proper utilization of the teacher,” noted DR. Macharia.
The new changes in the training of TSC teachers will enable the commission to deal with teacher shortages in the newly introduced areas of learning that are not being taught under the 8-4-4 education system.
“This will assist the commission to handle the new areas that have been introduced in the CBC for junior and senior secondary,” said Ms. Macharia, adding that “the whole course will take five years and a half”.
Teaching Practice Extended for Trainee Teachers, See Why
Based on the new TSC proposals for KUCCPS applicants wishing to pursue education courses this year, teachers on practice will take two terms as opposed to the current period of only one term upon completion of the course.
New Entry Requirements for Education Degree Courses
TSC has set the entry grade for the education degree courses as Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) mean grade of C+ with a minimum of B- in the three teaching subjects.
In the TSC proposals, students pursuing a Bachelor of Education in Technology are required to have two teaching subjects at minimum with a B-in the teaching subjects. The students will also be required to have a minimum of C (plain) in mathematics, physics, and chemistry, which are the foundational subjects.
The areas identified in these courses are related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) pathway, careers and technology strand,” reads the proposal.
The commission says the subjects will prepare teachers to teach the subjects from Grade Seven in junior secondary to Grade 12 in senior secondary.
Those to pursue Bachelor of Education (science) and Agriculture education are required to have at least a B- in the two teaching subjects and to have attained C (plain) in English and mathematics.
Bachelor of Science (education) will require students to have at least a B (plain) in two teaching subjects and a C (plain) in English and mathematics.
Students pursuing a Bachelor of Education (arts, fine arts, german, guidance and counseling, french, home science and technology, home economics, physical education) and Bachelor of Education (early childhood) are required to have a minimum of B- in two teaching subjects and a C (plain) in English, Kiswahili and mathematics.
The teachers will be in the visual and performing arts pathway.
Those hoping to pursue a Bachelor of Education in special needs will be required to have a C+ in two teaching subjects and a C (plain) in mathematics, English, and Kiswahili.
In all the degree programmes, students will also be required to pursue additional professional courses in curriculum development, psychology and sociology in education, mentorship and coaching programmes, performance management, education action research management, foundations in education, and educational leadership.
New Entry Requirements for Education Diploma Courses
Diploma in Education students are required to have a minimum of C+ and a similar grade in two teaching subjects. They are also required to have scored a C (Plain) in English and mathematics for science-based courses and a C- in mathematics for art-based courses.
The diploma programme at the universities will prepare the students to teach in pre-primary (PP1 and PP2) according to TSC.
A diploma in education in special needs at the university level requires a mean grade of C (plain) and C (plain) in two teaching subjects.