This archive report was first published on 20 August 2019.
Published on August 20, 2019, by Winnie Atieno, more by this author here.
Thirty-two public Teacher Training Colleges (TTCs) across Kenya are at risk of closure due to low enrolment and poor grades.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has issued a warning to the principals of these institutions, stating that if they fail to address the issues, universities may be asked to take over the training of student teachers.
TSC Chief Executive Officer Nancy Macharia expressed concern over the decline in enrolment and poor performance in exams, saying that the Ministry of Education's plan to train teachers at diploma level could be affected if the situation does not improve.
“If our own colleges cannot perform, and they are not telling us where the problem is, so that we sort it out, what are we going to do?” Dr Macharia asked.
As part of the measures to address the issue, the TSC has announced the transfer of 292 excess tutors to other institutions until enrolment improves.
Dr Macharia said that the transfers are part of the TSC's mandate and that the excess tutors will be deployed to institutions where they will be used optimally.
KTCPA chairman Barasa Wafula acknowledged that the low enrolment is affecting all TTCs and that the association will come up with a paper on the issues affecting the colleges within 30 days.
