All 32 teachers training colleges to lose independence under proposed law

This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.

All the 32 Teachers Training Colleges (TTCs) will be brought under one institution that will manage their staff, assets, liabilities and other obligations if a Bill before the National Assembly becomes law.

The new entity will be called the Kenya Teachers Training College (KTTC) with the existing TTCs operating as campuses under a management model similar to the Kenya Medical Training College.

The Pre-Service Education and In-Service Training in Basic Education Bill, 2025 seeks to establish the KTTC as part of a broader overhaul of the teacher training system. The restructuring could affect tens of thousands of teacher trainees, with the latest government data putting enrolment in pre-service teacher training and upgrade programmes at about 36,000 in 2024/25.

“The institutions listed in the Fourth Schedule shall, on commencement of this Act, be deemed to be the campuses of the College,” Clause 50 of the Bill states.

This would effectively move the country from a system of separately managed teacher training colleges to one national college operating through campuses.

For trainees, the proposed law will bring a more standardised training system, but also new uncertainty over fees and the administration of their colleges.

The Bill requires pre-service education to follow a common curriculum, stating that “pre-service education shall be offered in accordance with the programmes, curriculum and curriculum support materials developed by Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development.”

Assessment would also be standardised nationally, with the Bill providing that “the assessment of students shall be undertaken by Kenya National Examination Council.” KNEC would award certificates and diplomas to students who pass the assessment.

This could mean greater uniformity in the quality and content of teacher preparation across the 32 campuses.

But the proposed changes could also have a direct financial effect on trainees. 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 state what the new fees would be or whether they would be higher or lower than those currently charged by individual colleges.

For students and their families, therefore, one of the biggest unanswered questions is whether moving to one national college will change the cost of teacher training.

The Bill does provide protection for students who have already graduated from the affected institutions. Certificates and diplomas issued by the 32 colleges before the new law takes effect would continue to be recognised under the new college.

Transfer of employees

This means trainees would not lose their qualifications simply because their college changes its institutional status. The proposed restructuring would also directly affect lecturers, administrators and other employees of the 32 colleges.

The Bill states that staff appointed before the new law takes effect “shall, on the commencement of this Act, be deemed to be members of staff of the College.”

This means existing employees would automatically transition to the KTTC rather than being required to reapply for their jobs.

However, the longer-term implications for staff are less clear. The proposed board would have powers to appoint employees it considers necessary and determine their terms of service.

That could require the new institution to harmonise staffing structures across 32 colleges, potentially affecting job grades, management positions and reporting arrangements.

The Bill does not provide a detailed staffing rationalisation or redundancy plan, leaving the practical implications for individual employees to the transition process and the new board.

Principals could lose institutional autonomy. The restructuring could also significantly change the powers of individual college managers.

The new campuses will be headed by institutional administrators appointed by the board of the KTTC. Their role includes overseeing the day-to-day running of the campuses and delivery of pre-service education.

The biggest financial change would be the transfer of the colleges' assets and obligations to the new institution. The Bill proposes that assets held by the 32 institutions immediately before the law takes effect would be vested in the KTTC.

It further provides that the “rights, obligations and liabilities” of the institutions would become those of the new college. The new institution would therefore inherit not only the colleges' land, buildings, equipment and other assets but also their outstanding obligations and liabilities.

The Bill does not provide the combined value of the assets or liabilities being transferred. That leaves a major question over the financial condition of the new institution from the day it begins operating.

The proposed restructuring would require public financing, with the Bill acknowledging that its implementation will cost the taxpayer.

The KTTC would receive funding through allocations from Parliament, income generated from its functions and grants, gifts and donations.

Its expenditure would include salaries, allowances, pensions and gratuities for staff and board members, as well as development and maintenance of its property.

However, the proposed law does not provide a transition budget or state how much the merger of the 32 colleges will cost.

Reporting originally appeared via Nation Africa. Read the full source for additional context.