The National Assembly is considering a Bill that would merge 32 public teacher training colleges into a single national institution called the Kenya Teachers Training College (KTTC).

Spearheaded by Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, the Pre-Service Education and In-Service Training in Basic Education Bill, 2025, aims to unify teacher training under one management structure similar to that of the Kenya Medical Training College.

Key Provisions of the Bill

  • All existing teacher training colleges will become campuses of the KTTC, transferring their staff, assets, and liabilities to the new institution.
  • Pre-service teacher education will follow a common curriculum developed by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), ensuring national standardisation.
  • The Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) will conduct assessments and award certificates and diplomas to successful trainees.
  • The KTTC board, in consultation with the Education Cabinet Secretary, will determine student fees, though the Bill does not specify whether fees will increase or decrease.
  • The Bill integrates teacher registration requirements with the Teachers Service Commission Act, linking training more closely to professional certification.
  • Training for pre-primary and primary teachers will be consolidated into a single Diploma in Teacher Education for Pre-Primary and Primary.
  • In-service training frameworks will support continuous professional development for teachers and education managers, making ongoing training a formal career requirement.
  • Regulation and quality assurance measures will be established to monitor training standards across all campuses.

Implications for Teacher Training

The reforms aim to enhance the quality and consistency of teacher preparation nationwide, aligning it with the Competency-Based Education approach. By standardising curriculum and assessments, the Bill seeks to better prepare teachers for practical, competency-focused instruction in Kenyan schools.

With approximately 36,000 trainees enrolled in pre-service and upgrade programmes as of 2024/25, the restructuring will impact a significant number of future educators. While the consolidation promises uniform training standards, questions remain about how fees and campus management will be handled under the new system.

Overall, the Bill represents a major overhaul of Kenya’s teacher education landscape, intending to improve education outcomes through streamlined training and continuous professional development.