Education

Post-Graduate Diploma in Education

The Post-Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) is a professional teaching qualification designed for graduates who hold a bachelor's degree in a non-education field and wish to become qualified teachers. The programme provides pedagogical training, educational theory, and teaching practice experience, enabling graduates to register as qualified teachers with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) of Kenya.

The curriculum covers educational psychology, curriculum development, teaching methodology, educational assessment, classroom management, and subject-specific pedagogy. Students engage with both theoretical foundations of education and practical teaching experience through supervised teaching practice in schools. The programme is designed for degree holders seeking professional teaching qualifications.

The PGDE addresses Kenya's demand for qualified teachers by enabling graduates from various academic backgrounds to enter the teaching profession. Many secondary schools and teacher training institutions require professionally qualified teachers. The programme provides an alternative pathway to teaching for graduates who did not pursue a Bachelor of Education degree.

The programme combines coursework with supervised teaching practice. Students study educational theory, develop teaching skills, and apply their learning in classroom settings. Teaching methods include lectures, seminars, micro-teaching, and supervised teaching practice in schools. The programme emphasises practical teaching competence and professional development.

Graduates work as secondary school teachers, college lecturers, educational administrators, or curriculum developers in public and private schools, colleges, and educational institutions. The PGDE qualification enables graduates to register with the Teachers Service Commission and pursue teaching careers. The programme supports careers in teaching, educational administration, and curriculum development.

This programme is ideal for graduates with bachelor's degrees in non-education fields seeking professional teaching qualifications. The programme provides the pedagogical training and teaching practice required for teacher registration in Kenya.

Duration: 1 year
Public, up to: Ksh 214,200
Private, up to: Ksh 338,700
Job market: High

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 30 students
Award: Postgraduate Diploma

What you study

8 subjects

Educational Psychology
Curriculum Development
Teaching Methodology
Educational Assessment
Classroom Management
Subject-specific Pedagogy
Educational Philosophy
Teaching Practice

Modules

5 in the programme

Educational Psychology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Psychological foundations of education, including learning theories, child and adolescent development, and motivation.
Curriculum Development and Design
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Principles of curriculum development, design, implementation, and evaluation in the Kenyan education system.
Teaching Methodology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
General and subject-specific teaching methods, instructional strategies, and lesson planning.
Educational Assessment and Evaluation
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Principles and practices of educational assessment, including formative and summative evaluation, test construction, and grading.
Teaching Practice
Year 1Semester 28 creditsCore
Supervised teaching practice in schools, applying pedagogical knowledge and developing practical teaching competence.

Specialisations

Secondary Education
Focus on teaching methodology and pedagogy for secondary school education.
Technical and Vocational Education
Focus on teaching in technical and vocational training institutions.

A day as a student

A typical day combines lectures on educational theory with teaching practice in schools. Students attend classes on educational psychology, curriculum development, and teaching methodology, participate in micro-teaching sessions to practice teaching skills, and spend time in schools observing and teaching under supervision. The programme emphasises developing practical teaching competence alongside theoretical understanding. Teaching practice placements provide real classroom experience.

The trade offs

In its favour

Provides a direct pathway to teaching for graduates with non-education degrees.
Short duration of 1 year enables rapid career change into teaching.
Graduates are eligible for TSC registration and public school employment.

Against it

Requires a bachelor's degree in a teachable subject as a prerequisite.
Intensive programme combining coursework with teaching practice can be demanding.
Teaching practice placements may be in remote locations.

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

Public70k to 214k

70k at Kisii University214k at Kenyatta University

Private76k to 339k

76k at Lukenya University339k at Daystar University

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

Kisii 70K, KU 214.2K, Alupe 97.5K, UoN 124.5K/yr. Daystar 338.7K, Lukenya 76.4K/yr (official fee structures).

HELB loans are available for eligible Kenyan students. Some institutions offer partial scholarships for PGDE students.

Funding options

HELB Loan

Scholarships

1 recorded

HELB Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students enrolled in postgraduate diploma programmes at chartered universities

Getting in

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

What you need

Alternative entry: Bachelor's degree from a recognised university in a teachable subject. The undergraduate degree should be in a subject offered in the Kenyan secondary school curriculum.

How you are assessed

3 components

Coursework and Examinations
Written examination50% of the mark
Coursework assessments and written examinations evaluating educational theory and pedagogy.
Teaching Practice Assessment
Practical40% of the mark
Supervised teaching practice assessment evaluating practical teaching competence in school settings.
Micro-teaching and Portfolio
Practical10% of the mark
Micro-teaching sessions and teaching portfolio demonstrating pedagogical skills and reflection.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Graduates eligible for registration with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Accredited by CUE. Graduates eligible for TSC registration.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

3 roles

Secondary School Teacher
High demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 200,000
Teaches secondary school subjects, registered with TSC, in public or private secondary schools.
College Lecturer
Moderate demand
Teaches in technical and vocational colleges, applying pedagogical training to post-secondary education.
Educational Administrator
Moderate demand
Manages educational programmes, coordinates curriculum implementation, or administers school operations.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as secondary school teachers, college lecturers, educational administrators, and curriculum developers in public and private schools, colleges, and educational institutions across Kenya.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Industry links

Common misconceptions

A PGDE is inferior to a Bachelor of Education degree.
The PGDE is a recognised professional teaching qualification that enables graduates to register with TSC and teach at the same level as BEd graduates.
Only graduates with education-related degrees can enrol in PGDE.
The PGDE is specifically designed for graduates with non-education degrees who wish to become qualified teachers.
PGDE graduates cannot teach in secondary schools.
PGDE graduates are qualified to teach in secondary schools, provided their undergraduate degree is in a teachable subject.
The PGDE is a shortcut to becoming a teacher.
The PGDE is a rigorous professional qualification requiring coursework, teaching practice, and assessment equivalent to a year of intensive teacher training.