The Ministry of Education has discontinued the Diploma in Early Childhood Teacher Education (DECTE) and ordered immediate suspension of admissions.
In a notice dated January 19, Education Principal Secretary Julius K. Bitok said this programme has been merged with the Diploma in Primary Teacher Education (DPTE) to form a new course, the Diploma in Teacher Education – Pre-Primary and Primary (DTE PP & P).
“The Diploma in Early Childhood Teacher Education (DECTE) course has been merged with the Diploma in Primary Teacher Education (DPTE) and re-designated as the Diploma in Teacher Education Pre-Primary and Primary (DTE PP & P). Consequently, the Upgrade Diploma in Early Childhood Teacher Education (UDECTE) has been discontinued,” Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok said.
The Diploma in Early Childhood Teacher Education (DECTE) is a specialized teacher training program designed to equip teachers with the skills to teach learners in pre-primary and lower primary grades.
Previously, candidates with KCSE mean grade of D+ and below qualified for the ECDE programme. The latest move now raises the minimum qualification for any teaching programme to C (plain).
The Education Ministry directed all Teacher Training Colleges to offer the DTE PP & P programme on a full-time basis.
“Further, 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,” Bitok added.
The PS further directed the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) not to register any candidates for assessment under the DECTE or UDECTE programmes.
“No registration or approval of colleges shall be processed to offer DECTE or UDECTE programmes. These directives take effect immediately, and all concerned offices are required to ensure strict compliance,” he said.
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