Colleges offering diploma in special needs education in Kenya [Updated]

Last updated on July 27th, 2023 at 05:28 pm

Now, if you want to teach in a special school in Kenya- and teachers in these kinds of schools earn more than regular TSC teachers- you may want to enroll in one of the colleges offering diploma in special needs education in Kenya

So to point you in the right direction, below are some of the best colleges offering diploma in special needs education in Kenya

Colleges offering diploma in special needs education in Kenya

Kenya Institute Of Special Education (KISE)

This is undoubtedly one of the best colleges offering special needs education in Kenya (Diploma and certificate). 

Yeah, KISE is a public special needs education teachers college and has over the years trained hundreds of special needs teachers in kenya who have gone on to work for some of the leading special schools in Kenya.

So I would highly recommend you join KISE – and the best part?

Their fees are quite affordable not to mention that a certificate from KISE is widely recognized both locally and in a number of foreign countries (especially in the wider eastern african region).

Just to be clear, KISE’s Diploma in Special Needs Education is a two-year program that is intended for you if you want to work as a teacher or paraprofessional in special education settings locally and abroad.

Below are the Diploma in Special Needs Education Programmes at KISE:

You can pursue a Diploma in SNE in the following areas…

• Autism
• Intellectual Disabilities
• Visual Impairment
• Hearing Impairment
• Physical Disabilities
• Deafblind
• Inclusive Education
• Learning Disabilities
• Gifted and Talented
• Emotional &Behaviour Difficulties 

Diploma in special education requirements at KISE (full time)

• P1 Certificate (Primary Teacher Certificate)  or its equivalent. You must also have taught for 2 years (in a recognized school-any)
• ECDE Certificate from any government Institution. Here you must have scored D+(at least) in your KCSE or Division II(KCE) or its equivalent. 2 years teaching Experience a must too.
• P1 teacher certificate obtained through getting promoted after passing PTC exams offered by Ministry of Education
• P2 Teacher certificate + a certificate in SNE(special needs education) from KISE/or any other government recognized institution. You must have  a D plain(at least) here in your KCSE or if you did KCSE, a Division IV  or its equivalent. Besides, you must have taught for at least 5(five) years to stand a chance.

Remember you can apply for the KISE Special needs Education Diploma in-service program if you’re a TSC teacher looking to pivot to special needs education.

Don’t forget to keep checking newspapers and KISE social media handles for updates on when the next intake for the in-service diploma is.

Both full-time and in-service programmes take 2 years to complete- I should add that there are usually two intakes for the full-time course (August and January)- and you apply directly to the college.

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Kenya Institute of Special Education Location and contacts

Location: Kasarani, off Thika Super-highway via Exit 8, just next to Kasarani-Mwiki Rd. 

Telephone: 0734-801-860

Email address: info@kise.ac.ke (you can write to them for information such as fee structure for diploma in special needs education)

Website: www.kise.ac.ke 

Best colleges offering diploma in special needs education in Kenya – other colleges and universities offering diploma in special needs education in Kenya you can consider

If for some reason you are not able to attend KISE, you can consider the following alternative colleges/universities for your diploma/certificate/degree course in special needs education..

Moi University 

You can take a BEd in Special Education at Moi University, with specializations in areas like visual impairment, hearing impairment, physical impairment, intellectual disability, and multiple disabilities. 

Of course, the degree course also includes a teaching practicum.

Kenyatta University

KU is another university offering an accredited Bachelor of Education(BEd) in Special Needs Education degree. 

And just like Moi University, KU’s four-year degree program covers all the important special needs education topics, including child development, assessment, instruction, and behavior management.

Riara University 

Riara is private and also has a great BEd in Special Needs Education programme.

Here the specializations are:

• Early childhood education
• Primary education
• Secondary education- if you’d like to teach in a special needs secondary school in kenya.

MKU (Mt Kenya University)

MKU has a booming education school which also includes a special needs education section.

Read more about diploma in special needs education at MKU here

Where to study for special needs education diploma in Kenya -What to look for when comparing Colleges offering diploma in special needs education in Kenya

If you are looking into becoming a teacher in a special school in Kenya, the first thing you need to be sure of is that  the college/university is licensed to teach the program.

Besides:

• Consider the location of the institution though you can study online these days.
• Consider the cost of the diploma- Special education courses can be pretty expensive, so be sure to factor in the cost of tuition, fees, and living expenses when making your decision.
• Talk to current students and graduates of the program-This is a great way to get first-hand information about the institution and its strengths and weaknesses.
• Visit the campus and meet with the tutors- This will give you a chance to get a feel for the course and the college/university.

Is special needs education marketable in Kenya?

Yeah, special needs education remains a marketable course because kids with special needs are always born,and they need special care to grow up to be independent.

But you must be strategic- many courses won’t see you getting hired immediately these days-and that means networking aggressively, being out there even as a volunteer, and of course, applying to both private and public special schools because you can never be sure where your luck will be.

Otherwise, as I have said, you are unlikely to tarmac for as long as when you take business courses like business management with special needs education courses in Kenya.

In other words, as long as you have met TSC requirements for diploma in special needs education, you won’t sleep hungry.

Good luck. 

ALSO READ:

Schools for special needs in Kenya [Contacts and location]

Autism schools in Kenya [Contacts and location]

Requirements for education courses in Kenya