The Ministry of Education (MoE) has officially terminated the Diploma in Early Childhood Teacher Education (DECTE), following a directive from the State Department for Basic Education, and ordered the immediate suspension of admissions into the programme.
In a circular dated January 19, Principal Secretary Julius Bitok announced that the DECTE has been merged with the Diploma in Primary Teacher Education (DPTE) to create a new consolidated course, the Diploma in Teacher Education, Pre-Primary and Primary (DTE PP & P).
According to the notice, both the standalone DECTE and UDECTE programmes have been discontinued. The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has been instructed not to register any candidates for assessment under the two diplomas. The Ministry stressed that the directive takes effect immediately, and all relevant offices must ensure strict compliance.
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“This circular, therefore, directs that NO admission shall be undertaken for the DECTE programme and NO registration or approval of colleges shall be processed to offer DECTE or UDECTE programme,” the circular read.
The statement further confirmed that Teacher Training Colleges (TTCs) will now exclusively offer the new DTE PP & P programme on a full-time basis, with the school-based training mode suspended until further notice. No admissions or approvals will be processed for the discontinued diplomas.
“All Teacher Training Colleges shall offer the DTE PP & P programme strictly on a full-time basis. The school-based mode of training remains suspended until further notice,” the circular read.
To enforce the changes, county and sub-county education directors have been tasked with ensuring that all TTCs comply without delay. The directive has also been copied to the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), the Directorate of Early Childhood Development Education, and the Director of Teacher Education for coordination.
The DECTE was distinct from the DPTE, which prepared teachers for primary school classrooms from Grade 1 upwards. With the merger, the Ministry aims to streamline teacher training and unify standards across pre-primary and primary education.
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Previously, the DECTE was offered by recognised TTCs and regulated by the Ministry of Education and KNEC. Successful completion of the course qualified teachers to work in Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centres, particularly in pre-primary classrooms. Admission requirements included a minimum aggregate score in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), as set by the Ministry and respective colleges.
According to MoE, these directives take effect immediately, and all concerned offices are required to ensure strict compliance.
By Masaki Enock
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