Migori Teachers Training College is set to be among the first six teachers’ colleges across the country to train diploma courses in primary teacher education, according to the institution’s Chief Principal Dr. Emilly Kibet.
Dr. Kibet explained that the college that represents the face of the nation has teacher-students from across the 47 counties and was already offering a three-year diploma in primary teacher education.
Additionally, the institution had also started offering early childhood development education and a one-year upgrading course in primary teacher education.
It also boasts of being a centre of special needs education under the Kenya Institute of Special Education.
Dr. Kibet attributed this initiative to discipline and hard work by the lecturers’ relentless commitment to research and dedication to quality service delivery.
With a total population of 517 of 200 male and 317 female students, the college also brags about maintaining its good performance ranking in the primary teacher education national exams for years.
Dr. Kibet noted that the good performance is attributed to several measures taken by the school administration in conjunction with other education stakeholders and student leaders at the institution.
“Our lecturers have attended capacity building seminars, training and workshops organized by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) and the Ministry of Education together with the Teachers’ Service Commission, facilitated by the institution which enables them to develop their teaching skills,” she said.
The college also exposes trainees to different tasks during class activities and transformative assessments with the major aim of ensuring the teachers’ trainees are accorded and attain quality skills for future calling.
The principal also noted that the college facilitates its learners to participate and excel in co-curriculum activities competitions with different colleges across the country.
These include drama, music, ball games and athletics which have enabled them to explore their rich talents in competing at the national levels.
She however enumerated a host of challenges dogging the institution which are affecting the smooth running of the college.
Among them, Dr Kibet said, the institution’s human resource is understaffed especially the teaching staff and has serious financial constraints that hinder teaching and learning activities.
These, she notes, are a drawback towards the realization of the 2022/27 strategic plan of the institution. She called on support from well-wishers to help address some of the challenging issues.
However, despite the stiff challenges in the institution, Dr. Kibet boasts of adequately equipped lecturers who are skilled in Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) for digital literacy.
Total teaching staff of 29 lecturers also participates with other colleges to enable learning which in return has enabled virtual sharing of knowledge and sharing of skills.
She however adamantly says they must soldier on to deliver the best out of the little resource they have and give the youths a better future.
Dr. Kibet acknowledged the support from the Board for their continued cooperation saying, “I wish to pass my sincere gratitude to the Board of Management led by Mr Michael Ogutu for their relentless support and facilitation towards the achievement by the institution despite the tough financial time.”
The college which is located within Migori town’s central business district along Migori – Sirare highway enables the learners and its staff to easily access other essential services among them health, market and other government offices for services within the near surrounding.
By Polycarp Ochieng and George Agimba
