In Kenya with the rate of unemployment extremely high, you stand a better chance of being recruited as a teacher if you choose a marketable combination of subjects to specialize in.
One way of choosing the best subject combination approved by TSC is by doing research on the vacancies that TSC and Boards of Management of Schools are having difficulties to fill.
Some of the subjects that are facing a big shortage of teachers at the secondary school level in Kenya as per data gotten from recent TSC recruitment drives and the Kenya Secondary Schools Association are as follows:
- Drawing and Design
- Home Science
- Art and Design
- Agriculture
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Music
- Computer Studies
Other subjects experiences teachers shortages include:
- Foreign languages like French and German
- Woodwork
- English Language
- Mechanics and
- Electricity
- Bachelor of Education – Arts available subject Combinations
The table below provides some of the available marketable subject combinations
| ARTS COMBINATIONS | |
| SUBJECT 1 | SUBJECT 2 |
| Geography | CRE |
| Geography | History |
| Geography | IRE |
| Geography | Business |
| Geography | Kiswahili |
| Kiswahili | CRE |
| Kiswahili | IRE |
| History | Kiswahili |
| History | CRE |
| Arabic | IRE |
| Mathematics | Business Studies |
| Mathematics | Geography |
You can choose any subject combinations at secondary school level from the following units in Universities like Kisii University, Egerton etc.
- Geography
- Economics
- History & Government
- Religious Education
- English
- Kiswahili
- Mathematics
- Business Studies
- Literature in English
- Computer Studies
Bachelor of education science subject combination –available options
If you’re planning to pursue a Bed. (Science), the following subject combinations are offered in schools of education at universities like MKU, KU, Maseno, etc.
| SCIENCES COMBINATIONS | |
| SUBJECT 1 | SUBJECT 2 |
| Chemistry | Biology |
| Chemistry | Physics |
| Chemistry | Mathematics |
| Mathematics | Computer Studies |
| Physics | Computer Studies |
| Physics | Mathematics |
| Biology | Geography |
| Biology | Home science |
| Biology | Geography |
| Biology | Agriculture |
| Biology | Mathematics |
| Agriculture | Geography |
| Agriculture | Home science |
| Business | Computer Studies |
Bachelor of education science Course structure
Of course, the Bed. (Science) programme is tailored to make you a professionally qualified teacher who can competently handle STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) subjects in Kenyan Secondary Schools as well as middle level colleges.
Now, in universities like Moi, students must take chemistry and mathematics, plus any other content subjects (for example, physics, botany/zoology etc.) in the first year.
You drop one of the content units and take up your two specialized subjects, one being a major and the remaining a minor from the second year.
You are supposed to get the skills required to teach the major subject up to the KCSE (form 4) level so you’ll spend most of the time covering the content for this subject.
The rest of the time is dedicated to the minor subject in your preferred bachelor of education science subject combination – you teach this up to the form 2 level- meaning that the content to be covered is relatively less.
You normally complete it by the time the third year comes to a close.
However, the professional methodology is given equal emphasis for both the major and minor subjects.
Requirements to do bachelor of education (science)
Of course, before you even think about the best combination in teaching, you need to have met the minimum entry requirements for the degree in science education program.
Here is a summary of the requirements to pursue a Bachelor of Education (science) degree at leading Universities like Egerton.
KCSE mean grade of C+ with the following minimum grades for each subject:
C+ in Mathematics
C+ in one of the following:
(i) Physics or
(ii) Chemistry or
(iii) Biology or
(iv) Geography
OR
Have a B- in one of:
– Physical Sciences
– Biological sciences
Alternatively, you may be granted admission if you hold a Diploma or an S1 certificate in science (Education) from recognized Institutions.
Note that it’s a must for you to have scored a C+ in each of your selected teaching subjects to qualify.
Universities offering Bachelor of education (science) in Kenya
Once you have settled on a suitable Bachelor of Education science subject combination, the next question is to identify a university to attend studies.
Now, overall, some of the most popular universities when it comes to bachelor of education courses are:
Kenyatta University (you even have the option of taking up the Kenyatta university long distance learning option)
Moi University
Kenya University
Maseno University
University of Nairobi
Perhaps you can check out the above universities.
Chuka University and Meru University can also be excellent alternatives.
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