The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) has opened applications for the Diploma in Primary Teacher Education (DPTE) at Eldas Teachers Training College, situated in Wajir County.

In a notice released on Wednesday, July 9, KUCCPS confirmed that the admissions will be for the September 2025 intake. Eligible candidates must have attained a minimum mean grade of C (plain) in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), while applicants living with disabilities require a mean grade of C- (minus).

Interested students are advised to apply through the KUCCPS Students’ Portal at http://students.kuccps.net, with placements being offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

DPTE is a three-year teacher training program designed to prepare qualified, versatile educators for Kenya’s primary school system. The course is assessed by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) and emphasizes both academic content and professional teaching skills.

Graduates are certified to serve as P1 teachers in both public and private primary institutions. The program also acts as a foundation for further studies in education, including advanced diplomas, undergraduate degrees, and postgraduate qualifications such as master’s and doctoral programs.

The curriculum is comprehensive, covering core subjects like English, Kiswahili, indigenous languages, mathematics, science and technology, physical and health education, social studies, agriculture, home science, religious education, music, art and craft.

In addition, students are trained in key pedagogical areas including child development, educational psychology, human and child rights, school administration, and professional studies aligned with competency-based education.

The program also emphasizes classroom management, ICT integration in teaching, resource development, activity-based learning, and competency-based assessment techniques. Trainees are expected to complete all coursework, fulfill practicum requirements, and successfully pass KNEC examinations.

Upon completion, graduates will be equipped to teach learners from Grade 1 to Grade 6. Those with a C+ and above in KCSE are also eligible to teach in junior secondary (Grades 7–9) in subjects such as mathematics, indigenous languages, religious education, physical and health education, integrated science, and social sciences.

Further career prospects for DPTE graduates include roles in curriculum development, educational publishing, assessment design, and school leadership.

According to KUCCPS, the latest application cycle received 20,786 submissions for diploma-level teacher training courses, competing for 13,823 available slots. Out of these, 11,636 candidates were successfully placed, with 10,800 admitted specifically to the DPTE program, which had a capacity of 11,880.