Agriculture

Bachelor of Agricultural Education and Extension (AGED)

The Bachelor of Agricultural Education and Extension is a dual-purpose programme that prepares graduates to teach agriculture and biology in secondary schools and to work as agricultural extension officers providing advisory services to farmers.

Students study core agricultural subjects including crop and animal production, soil fertility, plant pathology, agricultural entomology, and farm business management alongside education modules such as history of education, psychology of learning, curriculum development, educational technology, and teaching methods.

Agriculture remains central to Kenya's economy, and the demand for qualified agriculture teachers in secondary schools is sustained by the competency-based curriculum's emphasis on practical subjects.

The programme is delivered over eight semesters with a teaching practicum and an industrial attachment or field attachment. Students complete a minimum of eight weeks of teaching practice after the third year, alongside a special project in the final year.

Graduates work as secondary school agriculture and biology teachers, agricultural extension officers, county agricultural officers, training officers at agricultural colleges, and community development officers.

This programme is ideal for students passionate about agriculture and teaching, who enjoy working with young people and farming communities. Strong communication skills are essential, as the career involves delivering information to diverse audiences — from students to rural farmers.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 275,400
Private, up to: Ksh 188,100
Job market: High

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 2 months
Average class: 45 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Fundamentals of Agricultural Education and Extension
Principles of Crop Production
Principles of Animal Production
Soil Science and Plant Nutrition
Agricultural Entomology
Curriculum Development
Methods of Teaching Agriculture
Methods of Teaching Biology
Principles and Methods of Agricultural Extension
Farm Business Management

Modules

12 in the programme

Fundamentals of Agricultural Education and Extension
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Introduction to the history, philosophy, and principles of agricultural education and extension, including the role of extension in agricultural development.
Principles of Crop Production
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Fundamentals of crop science including plant growth, crop establishment, cropping systems, and production practices for major Kenyan crops.
Principles of Animal Production
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Anatomy, physiology, nutrition, breeding, and management of farm animals including cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, and poultry.
Curriculum Development
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Principles and processes of curriculum design, development, implementation, and evaluation in educational institutions.
Soil Science and Plant Nutrition
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Soil formation, classification, physical and chemical properties, soil fertility management, and plant nutrient requirements.
Methods of Teaching Agriculture
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Pedagogical methods for teaching agriculture in secondary schools, including lesson planning, practical demonstrations, and assessment of agricultural skills.
Agricultural Entomology
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Insect biology, pest identification, economic importance of agricultural insects, and integrated pest management strategies.
Principles and Methods of Agricultural Extension
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Extension education principles, communication methods, farmer mobilisation, and technology dissemination strategies for agricultural development.
Teaching Practicum
Year 3Semester 26 creditsCore
Supervised teaching practice in a secondary school, delivering agriculture and biology lessons under the guidance of a mentor teacher and university supervisor.
Extension Programme Planning, Implementation and Evaluation
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Design, planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of agricultural extension programmes for farming communities.
Farm Business Management
Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore
Enterprise budgeting, financial record-keeping, investment analysis, and management of farm businesses for profitability and sustainability.
Special Project in Agricultural Education and Extension
Year 4Semester 26 creditsCore
Independent research project on a topic related to agricultural education or extension, culminating in a written report and oral presentation.

Specialisations

Agricultural Education (Secondary School Teaching)
Focus on teaching methods, curriculum development, educational psychology, and subject pedagogy for agriculture and biology in secondary schools.
Agricultural Extension Services
Focus on extension methods, rural sociology, programme planning, farmer advisory services, and technology transfer to farming communities.
Crop Production and Protection
Focus on agronomy, crop diseases, pest management, soil fertility, and sustainable crop production practices.
Animal Production
Focus on livestock nutrition, breeding, health, and production systems for dairy, beef, poultry, and small ruminants.
Rural Community Development
Focus on rural sociology, community mobilisation, participatory development, and livelihood improvement in rural areas.
Agricultural Training and Capacity Building
Focus on training design, facilitation skills, and capacity building for farmers, extension workers, and agricultural college students.

A day as a student

A typical day begins with a morning lecture on crop production or soil science, followed by a session on teaching methods or educational psychology. Afternoon sessions may include practical laboratory work in agricultural entomology or a micro-teaching practice session where students deliver lessons to their peers. During teaching practice periods, students spend full days in secondary schools observing and teaching agriculture and biology classes.

The trade offs

In its favour

Dual qualification enables graduates to work as both teachers and extension officers, broadening career options.
TSC employment provides job security, pensionable terms, and structured salary progression from Grade C2.
Widely offered across Kenya at many public and private universities, providing geographic flexibility.
Teaching practice and field attachment provide practical experience before graduation.

Against it

Dual focus means students cover both education and agriculture content, resulting in a heavier workload than single-specialisation degrees.
TSC starting salary for graduate teachers (KES 41,400–57,200/month) is modest compared to private sector agriculture roles.
Extension officer positions in county governments may require deployment to remote rural areas.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 303 agriculture courses

Public166k to 275k

166k at Egerton University275k at University of Eldoret

Private110k to 188k

110k at Mount Kenya University188k at Kabarak University

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

Egerton 165.8K; UoEldoret 275.4K/yr. Kabarak 188.1K; MKU 110K/yr. Src: eafinder, educationnewshub

Students can access HELB loans, county government bursaries, and NGAAF bursaries. TSC-sponsored teacher training support may be available for students committed to teaching in underserved areas.

Funding options

HELB Undergraduate Loan
County Government Bursaries
NGAAF Bursary

Scholarships

5 recorded

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Needy Kenyan students placed through KUCCPS in public universities.
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
BursaryKenyan
Kenyan undergraduate students placed by KUCCPS in public universities
TSC Teacher Training Support
BursaryKenyan
Teachers and trainee teachers in recognised institutions
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKsh 30,000Kenyan
Students from the respective county, applied through county education offices.
NGAAF Bursary
BursaryKsh 25,000Kenyan
Students from marginalised areas under the National Government Affirmative Action Fund.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+
Alternative entry: Diploma in Agricultural Education and Extension or related agricultural discipline with at least a credit pass from a recognised institution. Diploma holders may receive credit transfers and enter at the second year of study.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Coursework30% of the mark
Mid-semester and end-of-semester written tests covering lecture material and assigned readings across both agriculture and education modules.
Practical Reports and Assignments
Coursework20% of the mark
Laboratory reports, farm practical reports, micro-teaching evaluations, and lesson plan assignments.
Teaching Practicum Assessment
Practicum15% of the mark
Supervised assessment of teaching practice in secondary schools, including lesson delivery, classroom management, and mentor teacher evaluation.
Final Examination
Examination35% of the mark
End-of-semester university examinations testing theoretical knowledge and analytical application across all modules.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Graduates are eligible for registration with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) for employment as secondary school teachers in Kenya.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Statutory accreditation for all Kenyan universities offering degree programmes.
Teachers Service Commission (TSC)
Professional registrationRequired
Graduates must register with TSC to be employed as teachers in Kenyan public schools. BSc Agricultural Education and Extension is a recognised qualifying degree.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Secondary School Agriculture Teacher
High demandKsh 41,400 to Ksh 57,200
Teaches agriculture and biology in secondary schools under TSC employment at Grade C2, with permanent and pensionable terms.
Agricultural Extension Officer
High demandKsh 39,700 to Ksh 52,960
Works with county governments to provide advisory services, promote modern farming techniques, and support food security initiatives at the ward level.
Agricultural Training College Instructor
Moderate demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 50,000
Trains diploma and certificate students at agricultural training centres and technical colleges across Kenya.
Community Development Officer
Moderate demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 45,000
Works with NGOs and county governments to implement rural development and agricultural livelihood programmes.
Agricultural Project Officer
Moderate demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 55,000
Implements and monitors agricultural development projects for NGOs, donor-funded programmes, and government initiatives.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as secondary school agriculture teachers under TSC, agricultural extension officers in county governments, and training officers in agricultural institutions across Kenya.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Microsoft Excel
SpreadsheetPrimary
Agricultural data management and farm records
SPSS
Statistical analysisPrimary
Agricultural education research analysis
Google Classroom
E learning
Online teaching and learning platform
Microsoft PowerPoint
Presentation
Teaching presentations and lecture materials
GIS Software
Spatial analysis
Agricultural land use mapping and analysis
Microsoft Word
Document drafting
Lesson planning and educational materials

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

AGED graduates can only become teachers.
While many graduates teach agriculture and biology in secondary schools, others work as extension officers, county agricultural officers, NGO project officers, and agricultural training college instructors.
Agricultural extension is a dying field in Kenya.
County governments continue to recruit extension officers to support devolved agricultural functions. The shift to digital extension platforms has expanded rather than reduced the need for trained professionals.
The programme is easier than a pure agriculture degree.
AGED covers the same core agricultural science courses as a BSc Agriculture degree, plus additional education and extension modules. The workload is comparable or heavier due to the dual specialisation.
TSC does not employ AGED graduates.
TSC explicitly lists Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education and Extension as a qualifying degree for secondary school teaching employment at Grade C2.
AGED graduates cannot teach in the CBC system.
The programme includes curriculum development and educational technology modules aligned with competency-based education principles. Graduates are equipped to deliver agriculture under CBC.