Education

Diploma in Secondary Teacher Education (History and CRE)

The Diploma in Secondary Teacher Education (History and CRE) is a three-year programme examined by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) and offered at diploma teachers training colleges across Kenya. It prepares students to teach History and Christian Religious Education (CRE) at secondary school level. The programme is regulated by the Ministry of Education and follows the curriculum framework developed by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD).

The programme covers two teaching subjects (History and CRE), professional learning areas, physical education, and a common subject. Professional learning areas include educational psychology, sociology of education, philosophy of education, curriculum development, educational measurement and evaluation, guidance and counselling, and instructional methods.

Teaching subjects are studied in depth across all three years, covering both content knowledge and pedagogical methods specific to History and CRE. Students learn to design lesson plans, deliver effective instruction, assess student learning, and manage classroom dynamics in secondary school settings.

The programme consists of seven terms of residential tuition followed by two terms of supervised practicum (teaching practice) in secondary schools. The practicum provides hands-on teaching experience under the supervision of experienced teachers and college tutors.

Entry requirements are a KCSE mean grade of C+ (plus), with C+ in the two teaching subjects (History and CRE), C (plain) in English, and D+ (plus) in Mathematics. The programme is offered at diploma teachers training colleges including Kagumo TTC, Lugari Diploma TTC, and others.

Graduates are awarded the Diploma in Secondary Teacher Education (DSTE) by KNEC and are registered by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) as secondary school teachers. They pursue careers as secondary school teachers of History and CRE in public and private secondary schools across Kenya. The programme provides a progression pathway to a Bachelor of Education degree.

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: 40 students
Award: Diploma

What you study

10 subjects

History (Content and Methodology)
Christian Religious Education (Content and Methodology)
Educational Psychology
Sociology of Education
Philosophy of Education
Curriculum Development
Educational Measurement and Evaluation
Guidance and Counselling
Instructional Methods
Physical Education

Modules

12 in the programme

History Content I
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Historical content covering selected topics in African and world history for secondary school teaching.
CRE Content I
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Christian Religious Education content covering Old Testament, New Testament, and Christian theology for secondary teaching.
Educational Psychology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Psychological principles of learning, human development, and their application to teaching and learning.
Sociology of Education
Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore
Sociological perspectives on education, socialisation, and the education system in Kenya.
Instructional Methods
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Teaching methods and strategies for effective instruction in secondary school classrooms.
History Methodology
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Pedagogical methods for teaching History at secondary school level including lesson planning and assessment.
CRE Methodology
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Pedagogical methods for teaching Christian Religious Education at secondary school level.
Curriculum Development
Year 2Semester 12 creditsCore
Principles of curriculum development, implementation, and evaluation in the Kenyan education system.
Educational Measurement and Evaluation
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Principles of assessment, test construction, and evaluation of student learning.
Guidance and Counselling
Year 3Semester 12 creditsCore
Principles and techniques of guidance and counselling in secondary school settings.
Philosophy of Education
Year 3Semester 12 creditsCore
Philosophical foundations of education and their implications for teaching practice.
Teaching Practice
Year 3Semester 26 creditsCore
Supervised teaching practicum in a secondary school applying pedagogical skills and content knowledge.

Specialisations

History Education
Focus on History content and pedagogy for secondary school teaching.
CRE Education
Specialisation in Christian Religious Education content and teaching methodology.
Educational Psychology
Focus on learning psychology and its application in classroom settings.
Guidance and Counselling
Specialisation in student support and counselling in schools.

A day as a student

A typical day combines morning lectures on History content or CRE pedagogy with afternoon sessions on educational psychology, lesson planning, and micro-teaching practice with peers.

The trade offs

In its favour

TSC registration enables employment in public secondary schools with pensionable terms.
History and CRE are widely offered subjects, creating consistent demand for teachers.
Clear progression pathway to Bachelor of Education degree.

Against it

Teaching practice requires relocation to assigned schools for two terms.
TSC deployment depends on subject demand and available vacancies.
Starting salaries for diploma teachers may be lower than degree holders.

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 Kagumo 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).

Government-sponsored students at public teachers training colleges receive subsidised tuition. HELB loans are available for eligible students.

Funding options

HELB Loan
KUCCPS Government Placement
County Bursary

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students in accredited teachers training colleges.
Government Subsidy
SubsidyKsh 30,000Kenyan
Government-sponsored students receive subsidised tuition at public teachers training colleges.
County Bursary
BursaryKsh 20,000Kenyan
Various county governments offer bursaries for teacher training students.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+
Alternative entry: Equivalent qualification as determined by KNEC and the Ministry of Education.

History and Government
C+
Christian Religious Education
C+
English
C
Mathematics
D+

How you are assessed

3 components

DSTE Summative Examination
Written examination60% of the mark
KNEC-administered final examination at the end of the seventh term of residential training.
Continuous Assessment
Cat20% of the mark
Internal continuous assessment tests and assignments throughout the programme.
Teaching Practice Assessment
Practical assessment20% of the mark
Supervised teaching practice assessment in a secondary school over two terms.

Accreditation

Examined by KNEC and regulated by the Ministry of Education. Graduates must register with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) before being employed as teachers.

Accredited by

Kenya National Examinations Council
AcademicRequired
Examined by KNEC as Diploma in Secondary Teacher Education (DSTE). Graduates must register with TSC.
Teachers Service Commission
ProfessionalRequired
Graduates must register with the Teachers Service Commission before being employed as teachers.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Secondary School Teacher (History and CRE)
High demandKsh 360,000 to Ksh 600,000
Teaches History and Christian Religious Education in secondary schools registered with TSC.
Subject Head (History or CRE)
Moderate demandKsh 480,000 to Ksh 720,000
Leads a subject department in secondary school, coordinating curriculum delivery and assessment.
School Counsellor (with additional training)
Moderate demandKsh 420,000 to Ksh 600,000
Provides guidance and counselling support to students in secondary schools.
Education Officer (with experience)
Moderate demandKsh 540,000 to Ksh 840,000
Works in education administration at county or sub-county level supporting school supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates are registered by the Teachers Service Commission and employed as secondary school teachers of History and CRE across Kenya.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Microsoft Office Suite (Lesson Planning)
SoftwarePrimary

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

A diploma in education is inferior to a degree.
The diploma is a recognised teaching qualification registered by TSC, with a clear progression pathway to a Bachelor of Education degree.
History and CRE teachers have limited job opportunities.
Both subjects are compulsory or commonly offered in Kenyan secondary schools, creating consistent demand for qualified teachers.
Teacher training is only for those who cannot get other degrees.
Teaching is a regulated profession requiring specific training, with many graduates choosing it for its stability and social impact.
Diploma teachers cannot teach in national schools.
TSC-registered diploma teachers can be deployed to various school categories, with experience and further qualifications enabling career progression.