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Diploma in Secondary Teacher Education (Technical)

The Diploma in Secondary Teacher Education (Technical) is a KNEC-examined programme that prepares trainees to teach technical subjects in secondary schools. The programme is accredited by the Ministry of Education and examined by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC).

Duration
3 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 67,189
Ksh 201,567 total
Private tuition
Ksh 46,580
Ksh 139,740 total
Job market
High
Market demand for graduates

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, technical drawing, wood technology, metal technology, building construction, technical pedagogy, special needs education, and ICT integration. The curriculum combines coursework with extensive workshop practice and teaching practice in secondary schools.

Kenya's education sector under the Competency Based Curriculum emphasises practical and technical skills. The programme supports the government's technical and vocational education expansion in secondary schools.

The course is delivered through classroom sessions, workshop practicals, micro-teaching, and supervised teaching practice. Trainees develop both technical subject mastery and pedagogical skills.

Graduates qualify to teach technical subjects 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 (Technology).

This programme is suitable for individuals with a KCSE mean grade of C (plain) with an interest in technical subjects who aspire to become secondary school technical teachers.

What you study

8 subjects
  • Professional Studies
  • Technical Drawing
  • Wood Technology
  • Metal Technology
  • Building Construction
  • Technical Pedagogy
  • Special Needs Education
  • 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.

  • Technical Drawing for Secondary Teaching

    Year 1Semester 14 creditsCore

    Covers engineering drawing principles, projections, dimensioning, and teaching methodology for technical drawing.

  • Wood Technology for Secondary Teaching

    Year 1Semester 14 creditsCore

    Covers woodwork tools, joints, construction techniques, and teaching methodology for secondary school wood technology.

  • Metal Technology for Secondary Teaching

    Year 1Semester 14 creditsCore

    Covers metalwork tools, processes, welding, and teaching methodology for secondary school metal technology.

  • Building Construction for Secondary Teaching

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Covers building construction principles, materials, techniques, and teaching methodology for secondary schools.

  • Technical Subjects Teaching Methodology

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Develops pedagogical skills for teaching technical subjects including workshop safety and project-based learning.

  • Special Needs Education

    Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore

    Introduces special needs education and inclusive teaching practices for technical workshops.

  • ICT Integration in Education

    Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore

    Develops skills in integrating ICT tools into technical subjects teaching including CAD software.

Specialisations

  • Wood Technology Teaching

    Focuses on teaching woodwork and carpentry in secondary schools.

  • Metal Technology Teaching

    Specialises in teaching metalwork and welding in secondary schools.

  • Building Construction Teaching

    Covers teaching building construction and masonry.

  • Technical Drawing Teaching

    Focuses on teaching engineering drawing and graphics.

A day as a student

A typical day includes morning theory on technical drawing or construction technology, followed by afternoon workshop sessions where trainees practise woodworking, metalworking, and building techniques, and pedagogy workshops for teaching technical subjects.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
CBC emphasis on practical skills creates demand for technical teachers.Managing workshops requires additional time for equipment maintenance.
TSC employment provides job security and pension benefits.Workshop safety supervision adds responsibility beyond classroom teaching.
Clear progression to Bachelor of Education (Technology).—

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 Machakos 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

Scholarships you could apply for

1 usable where it is taught
Save one and be reminded before it closes

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade
Cminimum entry
Alternative entry

KCSE C- (minus) for candidates with disabilities.

Subject requirements
MathematicsC-
EnglishC-

When it next starts

Taught at 3 institutions
January 20273 institutions

Including Kagumo Teachers Training College, Kibabii Diploma Teachers Training College, Lugari Diploma Teachers Training College.

May 20273 institutions

Including Kagumo Teachers Training College, Kibabii Diploma Teachers Training College, Lugari Diploma Teachers Training College.

September 20273 institutions

Including Kagumo Teachers Training College, Kibabii Diploma Teachers Training College, Lugari Diploma Teachers Training College.

How you are assessed

3 components

  • KNEC Year I Summative Assessment

    Written examination70% of the mark

    Year I summative assessment covering professional studies and technical content.

  • KNEC Year II Summative Assessment

    Written examination70% of the mark

    Year II summative assessment covering advanced technical 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 (Technical).

  • 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 roles

  • Secondary School Technical Teacher

    High demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 65,000

    Teaches woodwork, metalwork, and building construction in secondary schools.

  • Technical Drawing Teacher

    Moderate demandKsh 32,000 to Ksh 60,000

    Teaches technical drawing and engineering graphics in secondary schools.

  • Workshop Manager

    Moderate demandKsh 38,000 to Ksh 60,000

    Manages school technical workshops while teaching technical subjects.

  • Private School Technical Teacher

    Moderate demandKsh 28,000 to Ksh 55,000

    Teaches technical subjects in private secondary schools.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates qualify to teach technical subjects in secondary schools and are eligible for TSC employment.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Common misconceptions

  • Technical teaching is just manual labour.

    Technical teaching involves engineering principles, design, safety standards, and pedagogy.

  • There is no demand for technical teachers.

    The CBC emphasises practical skills, creating demand for qualified technical teachers.

  • Diploma teachers cannot teach in secondary schools.

    Diploma teachers are professionally qualified and TSC-registered for secondary teaching.

  • Technical subjects are for academically weak students.

    Technical subjects require scientific knowledge, problem-solving, and design skills.

Further reading

Read next