The way thousands of trainee teachers are trained could change after a proposed law seeks to bring all 32 public teacher training colleges under one national institution, ending their current arrangement as separately managed colleges.
The Pre-Service Education and In-Service Training in Basic Education Bill, 2025 proposes the creation of the Kenya Teachers Training College (KTTC), with the existing institutions becoming campuses of the new college.
Under the plan, the colleges would transfer their staff, assets, liabilities and other obligations to KTTC once the law comes into force.
The new structure would follow a management system similar to that of the Kenya Medical Training College, where several training institutions operate as campuses under one main institution.
The proposal is part of wider changes targeting teacher training in the country and could affect about 36,000 students who were enrolled in pre-service teacher training and upgrade programmes during the 2024/25 financial year.
The Bill sets out how the transition would take place by stating that: "The institutions listed in the Fourth Schedule shall, on commencement of this Act, be deemed to be the campuses of the College."
The provision would place the colleges under a single national college rather than allowing each institution to continue operating under its current independent management structure.
Students would also be trained under a common system if the proposed law is approved. The Bill requires pre-service education to be delivered using programmes, curriculum and curriculum support materials prepared by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development.
This would mean trainees in the different campuses would follow the same training framework instead of having their programmes managed separately by individual institutions.
The proposed changes would also bring examinations under one system. The Kenya National Examination Council would be responsible for assessing students and would issue certificates and diplomas to those who successfully complete the required assessment.
The move would create a common approach to both training and assessment across the 32 institutions.
However, the proposed law leaves an important issue for trainees and their families open: how much they will pay for their training.
The KTTC board would be allowed to set the fees charged to students after consulting the Education Cabinet Secretary.
"The board of the KTTC would have the power, in consultation with the Education Cabinet Secretary to determine the fees payable by students of the college"
The Bill does not give a specific figure for the fees that would apply under the new arrangement. It also does not indicate whether students would pay more or less than the charges currently set by the individual colleges.
This means families supporting teacher trainees may have to wait for the new institution to determine the fees before knowing whether the restructuring will affect their financial burden.
The proposed law also includes measures covering students who have already completed their studies. It provides protection for graduates of the colleges affected by the planned restructuring.
If Parliament approves the Bill and it becomes law, the 32 public teacher training colleges would therefore operate as campuses within KTTC, bringing their management, training programmes and assessment under a single national framework.