Education

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).

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.

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
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 favour

CBC emphasis on practical skills creates demand for technical teachers.
TSC employment provides job security and pension benefits.
Clear progression to Bachelor of Education (Technology).

Against it

Managing workshops requires additional time for equipment maintenance.
Workshop safety supervision adds responsibility 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 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

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 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

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 (Technical).
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 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

Industry links

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.