Education

Diploma in Secondary Teacher Education (Agriculture and Business Studies)

The Diploma in Secondary Teacher Education (Agriculture and Business Studies) is a KNEC-examined programme that prepares trainees to teach agriculture and business studies in secondary schools. The programme is accredited by the Ministry of Education and examined by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC).

Trainees develop competencies in professional studies, agriculture content, business studies content, practical pedagogy, special needs education, and ICT integration. The curriculum combines coursework with extensive teaching practice and practical farm and business activities.

Kenya's education sector under the Competency Based Curriculum emphasises practical and entrepreneurial subjects. Agriculture and business studies are key components of the senior school curriculum, creating demand for qualified teachers.

The course is delivered through classroom sessions, practical farm work, micro-teaching, and supervised teaching practice. Trainees develop both subject mastery and pedagogical skills for effective practical subjects teaching.

Graduates qualify to teach agriculture and business studies in secondary schools and are eligible for employment by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC). The programme provides a foundation for progression to Bachelor of Education.

This programme is suitable for individuals with a KCSE mean grade of C (plain) who aspire to become secondary school teachers with a practical and entrepreneurial focus.

Duration: 3 years
Public, up to: Ksh 67,189
Private, up to: Ksh 46,580
Job market: High

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 6 months
Average class: 30 students
Award: Diploma

What you study

8 subjects

Professional Studies
Crop Production
Livestock Production
Agricultural Economics
Business Studies
Accounting
Practical Pedagogy
ICT in Education

Modules

8 in the programme

Professional Studies I
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Introduces educational psychology, learning theories, adolescent development, and principles of teaching and learning.
Crop Production for Secondary Teaching
Year 1Semester 14 creditsCore
Covers crop science, production techniques, soil management, and teaching methodology for secondary school agriculture.
Livestock Production for Secondary Teaching
Year 1Semester 14 creditsCore
Covers livestock management, animal health, nutrition, and teaching methodology for secondary school agriculture.
Business Studies for Secondary Teaching
Year 1Semester 14 creditsCore
Covers business environment, entrepreneurship, commerce, and teaching methodology for secondary school business studies.
Accounting Principles for Teaching
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers accounting principles, bookkeeping, financial statements, and teaching methodology for secondary accounting.
Agricultural Economics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers agricultural economics principles, farm management, marketing, and teaching methodology.
Special Needs Education
Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore
Introduces special needs education and inclusive teaching practices.
ICT Integration in Education
Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore
Develops skills in integrating ICT tools into agriculture and business teaching.

Specialisations

Crop Science Teaching
Focuses on teaching crop production and soil science in secondary schools.
Livestock Science Teaching
Specialises in teaching livestock production and animal health.
Business Studies Teaching
Covers teaching business studies and entrepreneurship.
Accounting Education
Focuses on teaching accounting and financial management.

A day as a student

A typical day includes morning agriculture content covering crop or livestock production, followed by afternoon business studies sessions on accounting or entrepreneurship, and pedagogy workshops where trainees practise lesson planning and practical demonstrations.

The trade offs

In its favour

Both subjects are practical and entrepreneurial, aligning with CBC priorities.
TSC employment provides job security and pension benefits.
Clear progression to Bachelor of Education.

Against it

Agriculture practicals require farm maintenance and outdoor work.
Managing school farms adds responsibilities beyond classroom teaching.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 243 education courses

Public67k to 67k

67k at Kagumo Teachers Training College67k at Baringo Teachers Training College

Private47k to 47k

47k at MIT Teachers Training College47k at MIT Teachers Training College

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

Public TTC 67,189/yr (KUCCPS). Private: MIT TTC 46.6K/yr (mitttc.ac.ke).

HELB loans, KUCCPS capitation, and county bursaries are available for eligible students.

Funding options

HELB Loan
KUCCPS Government Capitation
County Bursary

Scholarships

2 recorded

HELB Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students in teacher training colleges
KUCCPS Government Capitation
ScholarshipKsh 30,000Kenyan
KUCCPS-placed students in public teacher training colleges

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C
Alternative entry: KCSE C- (minus) for candidates with disabilities.

Mathematics
C-
English
C-

How you are assessed

3 components

KNEC Year I Summative Assessment
Written examination70% of the mark
Year I summative assessment covering professional studies and subject content.
KNEC Year II Summative Assessment
Written examination70% of the mark
Year II summative assessment covering advanced content and pedagogy.
Teaching Practice Assessment
Practicum30% of the mark
Assessment of teaching practice in secondary schools.

Accreditation

Examined by KNEC and regulated by the Ministry of Education. Curriculum designs developed by KICD. Graduates must register with TSC.

Accredited by

Kenya National Examinations Council
AcademicRequired
KNEC examines and certifies the Diploma in Secondary Teacher Education (Agriculture and Business Studies).
Ministry of Education
AcademicRequired
Ministry of Education regulates teacher training colleges.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Secondary School Agriculture Teacher
High demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 65,000
Teaches agriculture in secondary schools with practical farm and theory components.
Secondary School Business Studies Teacher
High demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 65,000
Teaches business studies and accounting in secondary schools.
Private School Teacher
High demandKsh 28,000 to Ksh 55,000
Teaches agriculture and business studies in private secondary schools.
School Farm Manager
Moderate demandKsh 38,000 to Ksh 60,000
Manages school farm operations while teaching agriculture.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates qualify to teach agriculture and business studies in secondary schools and are eligible for TSC employment.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Agriculture teaching is just farming.
Agriculture education involves scientific principles, economics, and pedagogy beyond basic farming.
Business studies is not a serious teaching subject.
Business studies develops financial literacy and entrepreneurial skills essential for the modern economy.
Diploma teachers cannot teach in secondary schools.
Diploma teachers are professionally qualified and TSC-registered for secondary teaching.
This combination has limited job opportunities.
Both agriculture and business are popular elective subjects in secondary schools.