Upgrade Diploma in Early Childhood Teacher Education
The Upgrade Diploma in Early Childhood Teacher Education (UDECTE) is a professional development program designed for early childhood teachers and educators in Kenya. The program aims to upgrade their qualifications to meet the requirements of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) and enhance their skills and knowledge in early childhood education.
Key Features
- The program is designed to enable candidates to take all professional courses with principles of CBC embedded.
- It consists of five school terms: four terms for coursework and one term for practicum.
- The Diploma in Early Childhood Teacher Education (DECTE) shall be graded as stipulated by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC).
Course Structure
- Units include Kiswahili, Mathematics, Environmental Education, Art and Craft, Physical Education, Music, Religious Education, Health and Nutrition, and Micro-Teaching.
- Some subjects are exempted from the upgrade program, including the Diploma in Teacher Education for Pre-Primary and Primary level (DTE-PP&P).
Entry Requirements
- Candidates must have a C+ mean grade in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) or its equivalent, as equated by KNEC.
Assessment and Evaluation
- The program includes a practicum component, which is a pre-requisite for the Teaching Practicum of two school terms.
- To be awarded the DECTE, candidates must complete the required hours for coursework and pass the stipulated assessment as directed by KNEC.
Implementation
- The upgrade program is implemented by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
- Unemployed and employed P1 and ECDE teachers are eligible to participate in the program