Kenya's Ministry of Education to Scrap off Bachelor of Education Degree
Kenya's Ministry of Education is reportedly planning to scrap off Bachelor of Education degree.
The ministry's policy experts want the 47-year-old degree replaced with a five-year teacher training program.
Under the new proposal, students who qualify to join university will do basic degrees in either science or arts before taking one-year postgraduate diploma training, The Star reports
Upon completion of the postgraduate diploma, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) will register them as teachers.
The proposal is borrowed from the training of lawyers and will see the government establish the Kenya School of Education to offer final exams and certification to trainees joining the teaching profession.
The students will first be required to complete an undergraduate degree in either science or arts in two subjects they wish to teach.
Once they graduate, they will be enrolled in the Kenya School of Education for a post-graduate diploma in education, which runs for a year.
The new policy has received the backing of various stakeholders including the Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association, Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET).
Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang says the new proposal seeks to prepare teachers’ public personalities and develop their classroom interaction skills.
“We are still in the formation of the Kenya School of Education to centralize our matters teaching and management with the help of TSC,” he notes.
The B.Ed was introduced in Kenyan universities in 1972.
Comments
That sounds like a good plan.
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That sounds like a good plan.
The idea is great but I…
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In reply to That sounds like a good plan. by Mugikuyu (not verified)
The idea is great but I differ with the time duration for the first degree. If one is set to be a teacher then the Content for the Two subjects should not take the number of years as General degree student who does Three subjects. I believe the time spent to cover education units within those year should be replaced with the content coverage of the two subjects. The Total time taken to graduate as a Qualified teacher in addition to the one year Diploma should remain the same. Thank you
Graduate Teacher
If the system has been there…
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If the system has been there for almost 50 years, why can't it be tailor made to accommodate the extra teacher training skills that are lacking or needed instead of wasting more money creating a new outfit, more bureaucracy that may not bring real benefits to the situation. May be we don't need more teacher training, what we need is to find ways of growing the economy to create jobs to accommodate those who have gone through the system but are in the streets and villages without jobs.
Because of Too many Teachers…
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In reply to If the system has been there… by Anonymous UI (not verified)
Because of Too many Teachers in Kenya (both for Primary and High schools) sitting Idle, there should be an Indefinate MORATORIUM on Teacher training (until All the already Trained are Fully employed by Government).
Meanwhile: Turn teacher Training premises into Nursing and Medical schools (because right now Kenya needs more both Health Facilities and Personel like CANs/Dressers, Nurses, Clinical officers, Doctors, Sergions, etc).
Because of Too many Teachers…
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In reply to If the system has been there… by Anonymous UI (not verified)
Because of Too many Teachers in Kenya (both for Primary and High schools) sitting Idle, there should be an Indefinate MORATORIUM on Teacher training (until All the already Trained are Fully employed by Government).
Meanwhile: Turn teacher Training premises into Nursing and Medical schools (because right now Kenya needs more both Health Facilities and Personel like CANs/Dressers, Nurses, Clinical officers, Doctors, SERGEONS, etc).
It is always good to adapt…
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It is always good to adapt new ways of doing things when the old way proves incapable anymore. Is this the case here? I say NO.
What we need is to find a way of recruiting teachers who are dedicated to their work,and to the students.Mere training is not going to ensure good results.A teacher could have 5 degrees,but be one of the most corrupt and lease effective teacher.And one could be a Former form 6,but very effective. The question should go beyond class work.
These new system willnot guarantee less cheating,less teachers impregnating students, less teachers clamouring for high pay,or less teachers just there for a pay check.But all these could be achieved by ethical,and disciplined teachers. Our goal is to find them. And also bring back the honor and respect teachers of yesteryear enjoyed.
And finally, were teachers asked on how to improve the system?
Is the assumption that only…
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Is the assumption that only secondary school teacher require a degree to teach.
All teachers for Grade 1 to form 4 need thourough training in preparation to teach children/students not subjects ( as currently constituted). As such they will all need to complete an undergraduate degree then apply for one year teacher training in an area of specialization. This includes more than 2 teaching. They also require to study: psychology, foundations, sociology, history & philosophy of education; addition to methodology- teaching & learning, assessments (tests and measurements) and communication & technology; plus a practicum/practice teaching and classroom management in the schools.
Such a great plan!
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