KUCCPS takes over teachers admission to training colleges

Students of Bondo Teachers' Training College in class. The college has a population of over 600 students. [Isaiah Gwengi, Standard]

The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) has finally taken over placement of teachers to diploma colleges.

Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha said 1,538 students have been placed in Diploma in Primary Teacher Education and Diploma in Early Childhood Teacher Education.

‘‘For the first time, KUCCPS placed applicants for admission to 32 public diploma primary teacher training colleges. These students will be trained to deliver the CBC curriculum," Prof Magoha said.

The move follows recent expansion of the KUCCPS mandate where the Ministry of Education transferred admission of new TTC students to the placement agency.

This means students in the institutions will now be eligible for loans from the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB).

The TTC admissions were previously conducted by the ministry at the county headquarters, and involved applicants manually filling and submitting application forms, but will now be done online through KUCCPS systems.

Magoha said the students have been placed to three TTCs. 

‘‘Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service has placed 293 students to three colleges offering Diploma in Secondary Teacher Education, of Kagumo, Kibabii and Lugari with 129 male, 164 female who will be trained to deliver the CBC curriculum,’’ he said.

He noted that majority of female students will be taking the Primary Teachers courses to handle CBC learners.

KUCCPS Chief Executive Officer Mercy Wahome noted that KUCCPS will add value to the TTC admission process by utilising its automated placement system to guarantee fair competition among applicants.

“One thing we pride ourselves in, is being able to place students in the fairest way possible. We can assure the Ministry that (KUCCPS) is ready for the task,” Dr Wahome said.

She noted that the placement agency had developed a watertight automated system for admission that ensures all legible applicants are placed.

She also spelt out the roadmap for the admissions activity for the second batch of students who will join the institution to undergo training under the Competency-Based Curriculum.

KUCCPS has listed 35 teachers training colleges on their portal for placement this year.

Before the TTC admissions were brought under KUCCPS, the placement agency coordinated the selection of students for government sponsorship to public and private universities, TVET colleges and the three secondary diploma teacher training colleges, namely Kibabii, Kagumo and Lugari.

In the 2021 placement, the capacities at the three secondary diploma TTCs were filled 100 per cent by KUCCPS.

The primary diploma TTCs attracted 990 trainees of the 10,000 that the ministry’s recruitment targeted.