Diploma in Secondary Teacher Education (Geography and Agriculture)
The Diploma in Secondary Teacher Education (Geography and Agriculture) is a KNEC-examined programme that prepares trainees to teach geography and agriculture in secondary schools. The programme is accredited by the Ministry of Education and examined by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC).
The short answer
- What it costs
- Up to Ksh 67,189 a year at a public institution, Ksh 201,567 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 46,580 a year at a private one.The detail
- Who can get in
- A KCSE mean grade of C or above, plus 2 subject grades. There is another way in without it.The detail
- How long, and when
- Takes 3 years, full-time, with 6 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 3 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
Trainees develop competencies in professional studies, geography content, agriculture content, practical pedagogy, special needs education, and ICT integration. The curriculum combines coursework with extensive teaching practice, field work, and practical farm activities.
Kenya's education sector under the Competency Based Curriculum emphasises environmental awareness and practical agricultural skills. Both geography and agriculture are important subjects in the senior school curriculum.
The course is delivered through classroom sessions, field work, practical farm activities, micro-teaching, and supervised teaching practice. Trainees develop both subject mastery and pedagogical skills.
Graduates qualify to teach geography and agriculture 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 an environmental and practical focus.
What you study
8 subjects- Professional Studies
- Physical Geography
- Human Geography
- Crop Production
- Livestock Production
- Soil Science
- Practical Pedagogy
- ICT in Education
Modules
8 in the programmeProfessional Studies I
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Introduces educational psychology, learning theories, adolescent development, and principles of teaching and learning.
Physical Geography for Secondary Teaching
Year 1Semester 14 creditsCore
Covers physical geography content including geomorphology, climatology, and biogeography with teaching methodology.
Human Geography for Secondary Teaching
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers human geography content including population, settlement, economic geography, and teaching methodology.
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 13 creditsCore
Covers livestock management, animal health, nutrition, and teaching methodology for secondary school agriculture.
Soil Science and Land Use
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers soil science, land use planning, and the intersection of geography and agriculture in land management.
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 geography and agriculture teaching.
Specialisations
Physical Geography Teaching
Focuses on teaching physical geography and environmental science.
Human Geography Teaching
Specialises in teaching human and economic geography.
Crop Science Teaching
Focuses on teaching crop production and soil science.
Livestock Science Teaching
Covers teaching livestock production and animal health.
A day as a student
A typical day includes morning geography content covering physical or human geography, followed by afternoon agriculture sessions with practical farm work, and pedagogy workshops where trainees practise lesson planning and field demonstrations.
The trade-offs
| In its favour | Against it |
|---|---|
| Both subjects are closely related through environmental and land use themes. | Agriculture practicals require farm maintenance and outdoor work. |
| TSC employment provides job security and pension benefits. | Geography field work requires additional planning and logistics. |
| Clear progression to Bachelor of Education. | — |
What it costs
Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.
What it costs, and where
Against 243 education 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 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 recordedHELB Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students in teacher training colleges
KUCCPS Government Capitation
ScholarshipKsh 30,000Kenyan
KUCCPS-placed students in public teacher training colleges
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
KCSE C- (minus) for candidates with disabilities.
When it next starts
Taught at 3 institutionsIncluding Kibabii Diploma Teachers Training College, Kagumo Teachers Training College, Lugari Diploma Teachers Training College.
Including Kibabii Diploma Teachers Training College, Kagumo Teachers Training College, Lugari Diploma Teachers Training College.
Including Kibabii Diploma Teachers Training College, Kagumo Teachers Training College, Lugari Diploma Teachers Training College.
How you are assessed
3 componentsKNEC 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
Kenya National Examinations Council
AcademicRequired
KNEC examines and certifies the Diploma in Secondary Teacher Education (Geography and Agriculture).
Ministry of Education
AcademicRequired
Ministry of Education regulates teacher training colleges.
Examined by KNEC and regulated by the Ministry of Education. Curriculum designs developed by KICD. Graduates must register with TSC.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
4 rolesSecondary School Geography Teacher
High demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 65,000
Teaches geography in secondary schools under the CBC curriculum.
Secondary School Agriculture Teacher
High demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 65,000
Teaches agriculture with practical farm and theory components.
Private School Teacher
High demandKsh 28,000 to Ksh 55,000
Teaches geography and agriculture in private secondary schools.
School Farm Manager
Moderate demandKsh 38,000 to Ksh 60,000
Manages school farm operations while teaching agriculture and environmental studies.
Graduate outcomes
Graduates qualify to teach geography and agriculture in secondary schools and are eligible for TSC employment.
Where these fields lead
8 careers- Early Childhood StrategistEducation10Low exposure
- Special Needs EducatorEducation10Low exposure
- Career Guidance CounselorEducation11Low exposure
- Early Literacy SpecialistEducation14Low exposure
- STEM Laboratory EducatorEducation14Low exposure
- TVET Competency AssessorEducation14Low exposure
- Vocational Workshop InstructorEducation14Low exposure
- Montessori EducatorEducation15Low exposure
Certifications
Industry links
Common misconceptions
Geography and agriculture is an unusual combination.
Both subjects are closely related through environmental science, soil science, and land use studies.
Agriculture teaching is just farming.
Agriculture education involves scientific principles, economics, and pedagogy beyond basic farming.
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 geography and agriculture are popular elective subjects, especially in rural schools.