Quick answer
KISE full-time Diploma in Special Needs (Teacher) Education tuition: Session 1 KSh 60,945, Session 2 KSh 17,815, Session 3 KSh 17,715 (Year 1 KSh 96,475); Session 4 KSh 28,465, Session 5 KSh 11,960 (Year 2 KSh 40,425); total KSh 136,900 excluding accommodation and meals. Distance learning total KSh 131,050.
Updated 25 October 2026
The full-time Diploma in Special Needs Education at the Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE) costs KSh 136,900 in tuition over two years, according to the fee structure KISE has published: KSh 96,475 in the first year and KSh 40,425 in the second. That figure covers tuition only. Accommodation and meals are charged separately. This guide breaks the fees down session by session, compares them with the distance learning mode, and explains who qualifies and how teachers apply.
In this guide
About KISE
KISE is a semi-autonomous agency of the Ministry of Education, set up through Legal Notice No. 17 of 14 February 1986. Its campus is off the Kasarani to Mwiki road in Kasarani, Nairobi. The institute trains teachers to work with learners who have disabilities, carries out functional assessment of children, and produces assistive devices and learning materials. Its programmes run in full-time, distance learning (school-based) and evening modes.
KISE now calls the main programme the Diploma in Special Needs Teacher Education (DSNTE). Older documents and many adverts still call it the Diploma in Special Needs Education (SNE). They refer to the same two-year course.
Full-time mode fees, session by session
The full-time diploma is split into five sessions over two years. The amounts below are the tuition fees in the structure KISE published, excluding accommodation and meals.
| Year | Session | Tuition (KSh) |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | Session 1 | 60,945 |
| Year 1 | Session 2 | 17,815 |
| Year 1 | Session 3 | 17,715 |
| Year 1 total | 96,475 | |
| Year 2 | Session 4 | 28,465 |
| Year 2 | Session 5 | 11,960 |
| Year 2 total | 40,425 | |
| Grand total | 136,900 |
The first session is by far the largest payment because it includes one-off charges at admission. Plan for it early: a teacher joining in the first session needs close to KSh 61,000 for tuition alone before adding the cost of a room, meals, books and travel to Nairobi.
How full-time compares with distance learning
The distance learning (school-based) mode lets teachers keep working and attend sessions during school holidays. It has six sessions instead of five and works out slightly cheaper overall.
| Mode | Year 1 (KSh) | Year 2 (KSh) | Total tuition (KSh) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time | 96,475 | 40,425 | 136,900 |
| Distance learning | 71,720 | 59,330 | 131,050 |
The difference in tuition is only KSh 5,850, but the real gap is in living costs and income. A full-time student spends two years at the Kasarani campus. Serving TSC teachers admitted to the full-time in-service course go on study leave, so they should confirm their pay position with the Teachers Service Commission before reporting. A distance learner stays in class at their own school for most of the year, which is why most self-sponsored teachers choose that route.
Fees are revised from time to time. Before paying, confirm the current figures with KISE on its fees page or by phone.
Specialisations offered
Every diploma student does common units in the first year and then specialises. The areas KISE lists include:
- visual impairment;
- hearing impairment;
- physical disabilities;
- intellectual and developmental disabilities;
- autism;
- deafblindness;
- learning disabilities;
- emotional and behavioural difficulties;
- gifted and talented learners;
- inclusive education.
Not every specialisation is offered in every intake. The Ministry of Education’s 2026 in-service advert, for instance, listed visual impairments, physical impairments, intellectual and developmental disabilities, hearing impairments, autism and deafblind education.
Who qualifies
KISE’s published entry routes for the diploma are:
- a P1 Primary Teacher Certificate with at least two years of teaching experience;
- a certificate in Early Childhood Development Education from a government institution, with at least D+ in KCSE (or Division II in KCE) and two years of teaching experience;
- a P1 certificate gained through promotion after passing the proficiency (PTC) exam;
- a P2 certificate plus a certificate in SNE from KISE or another recognised institution, with at least D plain in KCSE (or Division IV in KCE) and five years of teaching experience.
The Ministry-sponsored full-time in-service course
Each year the State Department of Basic Education recruits serving teachers for the two-year full-time in-service diploma at KISE. In the 2026 round, applicants had to be under 50, hold a P1 certificate (or P1 by promotion), have served as TSC teachers for at least five years and be Kenyan citizens. Forms were downloaded from education.go.ke or collected from county and sub-county directors of education, and had to be handed in personally to the sub-county director by 20 April 2026. Shortlisted teachers were told by SMS how to get their admission letters, and the Ministry said registration was free of charge.
At registration, applicants presented the handwritten form, original and certified copies of academic and professional certificates, the TSC letter of appointment, the national ID and a recent colour passport photo. The next advert usually comes out around March or April, so watch the Ministry’s circulars page from early in the year. Our guide to TSC promotion requirements explains how extra qualifications can count when you apply for promotion.
What else to budget for
Tuition is only part of the cost. Full-time students should also plan for:
- accommodation and meals, which KISE charges separately from tuition;
- a medical examination, since joining instructions ask for a medical form signed and stamped by a government medical officer;
- books, stationery and teaching practice materials;
- travel to and from Kasarani, and to teaching practice schools.
Teachers who need a loan can look at their SACCO first. Several teachers’ SACCOs give school fees loans, and our teachers SACCO loan calculator shows how repayments work.
How to contact KISE
KISE’s general line is 0111 055 810 and its assessment line is 0111 055 816. The email address is info@kise.ac.ke. Call the general line to confirm current fees, intake dates and whether your preferred specialisation is running.
Related guides
If you are still deciding on a teaching route, read our guide on how to become a teacher in Kenya. New graduates will need to register with TSC and get a TSC number, and the TSC online services portal covers most teacher records. Special needs teaching jobs in schools and NGOs are posted regularly on Job in Kenya.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the KISE full-time diploma in special needs education?
KISE’s published tuition for the full-time diploma is KSh 136,900: KSh 96,475 in year one and KSh 40,425 in year two. Accommodation and meals are extra.
How much is the first session at KISE?
Session 1 of the full-time diploma is KSh 60,945, the largest single payment in the course.
Is distance learning cheaper than full-time at KISE?
Slightly. Distance learning tuition totals KSh 131,050 over six sessions, about KSh 5,850 less than full-time, and you keep working at your school.
How long is the KISE diploma?
Both the full-time and distance learning diplomas take two years.
Who can join the Ministry’s full-time in-service SNE course?
In 2026 it was open to Kenyan TSC teachers under 50 with a P1 certificate (or P1 by promotion) and at least five years of service.
Does KISE fee include accommodation?
No. The published tuition excludes accommodation and meals, which are charged separately.
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