Probably you are interested in pursuing special needs education in Kenya (it is one of the highest-paid teaching professions) and would like to learn more about it.

Well, if that’s the case, then read this article to the very end to learn more about special needs education courses in Kenya.

Let us get started…

Special needs education courses in Kenya

What do special needs education courses entail?

Ideally, the term ‘special needs’ comprises a wide range of disabilities and learning differences, such as physical disabilities, intellectual disabilities, sensory impairments, and learning disabilities.

Needless to say, the importance of special education courses cannot be overstated.

Why so?

These courses typically not only provide you with the knowledge and skills to support students of varying abilities, but they also challenge societal norms by fostering a culture of inclusivity and acceptance.

So, in general, the primary goal of special needs education courses is to provide one with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to meet the needs of special needs learners.

In this regard, you can pursue special needs education in the following areas:

• Autism
• Emotional & Behavior Difficulties
• Hearing Impairment
• Deaf/blind
• Intellectual Disabilities
• Gifted and Talented
• Visual Impairment
• Physical Disabilities
• Learning Disabilities
• Inclusive Education

So, what is the role of special needs teachers?

Special needs education teachers play a very important role in in supporting and educating students with various disabilities and special needs.

So, some of your primary duties and responsibilities as a special needs teacher will be as follows:

• Developing and implementing individualized education plans (IEPs) for learners with disabilities.
• Giving instructions, guidelines, and support to learners with various disabilities in a variety of settings, such as a classroom, the community, and so on.
• Collaborating with parents or guardians as well as other professionals (such as speech therapists, occupational therapists, school counselors, and administrators) to ensure that students with disabilities receive the best education possible.
• Advocating for the rights of students with disabilities.
• Assessing and monitoring the students’ progress and making necessary changes to the instructions you’re using
• Keeping detailed records on how your students are progressing
• Participating in important professional development activities will keep you up to date on the latest special education trends.
• Assisting special needs students in developing social and emotional skills, such as self-regulation and coping strategies.

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Requirements for special needs education in Kenya

The following are the requirements for special needs education courses in Kenya at all levels:

1.     Certificate in special needs education

If you want to start at the certificate level, you can pursue certificate in special needs education (Inclusive Education).

Entry requirements: This course is open to teachers, parents, social workers, caregivers, Braille transcribers, and anyone else who has completed Form 4 and has a KCSE minimum mean grade of KCSE D (plain).

Course duration: 1 year

Where to study: Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE)

2.     Diploma in special needs education

Entry requirements:

• You must have a P1 teacher training Certificate or its equivalent, with a minimum of 2-years teaching experience.

Other qualifications:

• A P1 teacher certificate obtained through promotion by Ministry of Education after passing the Teacher Proficiency course (TPC) exams.

• An ECDE Certificate from KNEC with at least D+ (plus) in your KCSE plus 2 years of teaching experience.

• A P2 Teacher certificate together with a certificate in special needs education (SNE) from Kenya Institute of Special needs (KISE) or any other government recognized institution. You must also have at least D plain in your KCSE. Besides, you must have at least 5-years of working experience.

Course duration: 3 years

Colleges and universities offering diploma in special needs education

• Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE) – the best
• Machakos Institute of Technology Teachers Training College (MIT TTC)
• Moi University
• Kenyatta University
• Riara University
• Mount Kenya University
• Maseno University

3.     Degree in special needs education requirements

Degree in special needs education primary option

To become a special needs primary school teacher, you must meet the following requirements:

• A KCSE minimum grade of C+ (Plus) or its equivalent

Or,

• A Diploma in Special Needs from recognized institution with a KCSE mean grade of C (plain)
• A P1 certificate plus a Diploma in Special Needs from a recognized institution

Course duration: 4 years

Universities offering degree in special needs education primary option

• Karatina University
• Kenyatta University
• Mount Kenya University

Degree in special needs education secondary option

To become a special needs secondary school teacher, you must meet the following requirements:

• You must have a KCSE mean grade of C+ (plus) and above, with at least a C+ (plus) in both English and Mathematics
• Be proficient in KSL (Kenyan sign language) for hearing impaired,

And,

• Be physically as well as mentally fit to handle and teach students with special needs

Alternative qualifications:

• A Diploma in Special Needs Education from a recognized Institution

Course duration: 4 years

Universities offering degree in special needs education secondary option

• Kenyatta University
• Moi University
• Africa Nazarene University
• Mount Kenya University
• Karatina University

Special needs education courses in Kenya – Final word

So, there’s what you need to know about special needs education in Kenya, including their qualifications and where to study.

For more information, please contact the institution where you wish to pursue the course before applying.

All the best!

ALSO READ:

Fee structure for diploma in special needs education [2025 update]

TSC requirements for diploma in special needs education

Colleges offering diploma in special needs education in Kenya (Updated)

Schools for special needs in Kenya [contacts and location]

The post Special Needs Education Courses in Kenya [What you need to know] appeared first on Kenya Education Guide.

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

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

The post Colleges offering diploma in special needs education in Kenya [Updated] appeared first on Kenya Education Guide.