Craft in Information Studies
The Craft Certificate in Information Studies is a KNEC Craft Certificate programme that trains students in library operations, records management, and information services skills. The course is examined by KNEC and offered across accredited TVET institutions in Kenya. Students learn cataloguing, records filing, circulation desk operations, database entry, book shelving, and information desk services.
The short answer
- What it costs
- Up to Ksh 67,189 a year at a public institution, Ksh 134,378 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 27,000 a year at a private one.The detail
- Who can get in
- A KCSE mean grade of KCSE Mean Grade D (Plain) or above. There is another way in without it.The detail
- How long, and when
- Takes 2 years, full-time, with 2 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 42 institutions.The detail
- Where it leads
- 8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Early Childhood Strategist, at 10 out of 100.The detail
The programme
What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.
Overview
The curriculum covers communication skills, information communication technology, entrepreneurship, and occupational safety. Core units include basic cataloguing, records filing, workplace safety and ethics, circulation desk operations, simple database entry, book shelving and organisation, and industrial attachment in a library, information centre, or records department.
Kenya's education sector expansion, including schools, colleges, and public libraries, creates demand for certified information studies personnel. Educational institutions, public libraries, government records departments, and corporate information centres require trained staff for library operations and records management.
Training combines classroom theory with practical sessions in library and information centre environments. Students practice cataloguing, filing, circulation operations, database entry, shelving, and user assistance under supervised conditions. The programme includes industrial attachment in libraries, information centres, or records departments where students apply their skills in real information management environments.
Graduates work as library assistants, records management assistants, circulation desk assistants, information desk assistants, and filing clerks in schools, colleges, public libraries, government departments, and corporate information centres. The qualification provides a foundation for progression to Diploma in Library and Information Science for specialised library management and information studies roles.
This programme is suitable for KCSE graduates with a mean grade of D (plain) who are interested in information management and library services and seeking technical positions in library and information service environments.
What you study
8 subjects- Book Shelving and Organisation
- Circulation Desk Operations
- Basic Cataloguing
- Records Filing
- Simple Database Entry
- User Assistance
- Library Equipment Operation
- Basic Reference Support
Modules
8 in the programmeWorkplace Safety and Ethics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Professional ethics, workplace safety, and information handling standards including confidentiality and safe working practices.
Book Shelving and Organisation
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Shelving systems, classification order, and physical organisation of materials including Dewey classification and shelf management.
Circulation Desk Operations
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Issue and return processing, membership management, and overdue tracking including circulation procedures and user registration.
Basic Cataloguing
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Basic cataloguing procedures, card preparation, and simple classification including descriptive cataloguing and subject analysis.
Records Filing
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Filing systems, alphabetical and numerical filing, and record organisation for efficient information retrieval and management.
Simple Database Entry
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Entering information into library databases and management systems including data capture, record creation, and basic database operations.
User Assistance
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Helping users find materials, answering basic inquiries, and providing directions.
Library Equipment Operation
Year 3Semester 26 creditsCore
Operating library equipment including computers, scanners, and security systems.
Specialisations
Archive Support
Focus on archive operations and historical document handling including preservation, retrieval, and basic archive management.
Records Management
Specialisation in records filing and document management including classification, retention, and organisational records administration.
Library Operations
Focus on circulation, shelving, and library support services including book issuing, returns, and basic library operations.
Information Desk Services
Focus on user-facing information assistance and inquiry handling including reference services, user guidance, and information desk operations.
A day as a student
Students spend time in practical library operations — shelving books, managing circulation, filing records, and entering data into library systems. Theory sessions cover basic cataloguing and information organisation.
The trade-offs
| In its favour | Against it |
|---|---|
| Practical skills for immediate employment in library and information support roles. | Job market is smaller compared to business or IT fields. |
| Records management skills are in demand across all sectors. | Less theoretical foundation than full certificate programmes. |
| Foundation for progression to certificate and diploma in information science. | — |
What it costs
Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.
What it costs, and where
Against 191 technology coursesAnnual 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
Public 67K/yr (jitimu.com Thika TTI). Pvt Vision Stars 27K/yr (studyinkenya.co.ke).
TVET government funding and HELB loans are available for eligible students.
Funding options
Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Funding
Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) - TVET Loans
Scholarships
4 recordedHELB TVET Loans
LoanKenyan
Kenyan citizens enrolled in accredited TVET institutions, based on financial need.
TVET Funding
Government fundingKenyan
Kenyan citizens enrolled in accredited TVET institutions, based on financial need.
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Residents of respective counties, targeting vulnerable learners.
National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF)
BursaryKenyan
Students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Scholarships you could apply for
1 usable where it is taught- Moringa School Craftbyte Scholarship
QuarterlyFullMoringa School
Full software development course
Getting in
The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.
What you need
Artisan Certificate in a relevant field or equivalent qualification.
When it next starts
Taught at 42 institutionsIncluding Baringo National Polytechnic, Tindiret Technical and Vocational College, Webuye West Technical and Vocational College.
Including Baringo National Polytechnic, Tindiret Technical and Vocational College, Webuye West Technical and Vocational College.
Including Baringo National Polytechnic, Tindiret Technical and Vocational College, Webuye West Technical and Vocational College.
How you are assessed
3 componentsTheory Assessment
Test20% of the mark
Written assessment of supporting information studies knowledge.
Information Studies Projects
Project30% of the mark
Completion of library operations and records management projects.
Competency-Based Practical Assessment
Practicum50% of the mark
TVET-CDACC competency assessment of practical library and information skills.
Accreditation
TVET Curriculum Development Assessment and Certification Council
NationalRequired
Examining and certifying body for competency-based programmes under the Kenya National Qualifications Framework (KNQF).
Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority
NationalRequired
Mandatory accreditation for all TVET institutions and programmes in Kenya.
Accredited by Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA) and certified by TVET Curriculum Development Assessment and Certification Council (TVET-CDACC) under the Kenya National Qualifications Framework (KNQF). The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE), the statutory body responsible for quality assurance and regulation of university education in Kenya.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
4 rolesRecords Clerk
High demandKsh 36,000 to Ksh 62,000
Manage organisational records, maintain filing systems, and support records compliance.
Archive Assistant
Low demandKsh 37,000 to Ksh 63,000
Support archive operations including document handling, filing, and retrieval.
Information Desk Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 33,000 to Ksh 55,000
Provide front-line information assistance to library or information centre users.
Library Clerk
Moderate demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 60,000
Support library operations including circulation, shelving, and user assistance.
Graduate outcomes
Graduates work as library clerks, records clerks, and archive assistants in libraries, schools, and organisations across Kenya.
Where these fields lead
8 careers- Early Childhood StrategistEducation10Low exposure
- Special Needs EducatorEducation10Low exposure
- Career Guidance CounselorEducation11Low exposure
- Cloud Security EngineerTechnology14Low exposure
- Early Literacy SpecialistEducation14Low exposure
- Industrial Robotics ProgrammerTechnology14Low exposure
- STEM Laboratory EducatorEducation14Low exposure
- TVET Competency AssessorEducation14Low exposure
Certifications
Industry links
Common misconceptions
Craft information studies is not a real qualification
It is a TVET-CDACC certified competency-based qualification recognised by libraries and organisations for information support roles.
Library work is just shelving books
Library operations involve circulation management, cataloguing, user assistance, digital systems, and information organisation.
Craft graduates cannot advance in information science
Craft graduates can progress to certificate, diploma, and degree programmes in library and information science.
Information work is becoming obsolete
Digital transformation has increased the need for trained personnel who can manage both physical and digital information resources.