About

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE COLLEGE

Asumbi teachers’ Training College stands on an area of 46 acres. It is situated in Gem Central Location of Rangwe Sub County in Homa Bay County. It is about 25km from Kisii via Suneka Township and is 16km from Suneka. It is 28 Km from Homa Bay via Rodi Kopany through Rangwe Center.

In 1913, the Mill Hill Fathers settled in Asumbi led by Father Philip Scheffer. They built a mission and gave religious and academic training to the local people. In 1927/28, a move was made to select the very best primary school pupils for special training to become teachers. In 1928, Asumbi produced its first four trained teachers. Thereafter, it produced a small number of T4 trained teachers annually.

On 6th January, 1936, Sister Francis Theresa, of the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph from England started a teacher training college at Asumbi with two students. It was at that time known as Asumbi central school and was founded within the primary school compound. She had two teachers; Nicholas Otuoma and Sister Getrude Mary. In 1938, several local training centers were elevated to proper training centers including Asumbi. It became Asumbi Cardinal Vaugan-TTC. The staff were priests, sisters and trained teachers.

In 1938, Asumbi was split into two men and women training colleges, Sr. Mary Getrude became principal of 23 students of the men’s college and Sr. Francis headed the women’s college. In 1956, the first P3 student were admitted while the last T4S graduated at the end of the same year. The P3 trainees were standard 8 school leavers.

In October 1958, the brothers of Tilburg arrived in Kenya from Holland. On 1st, January 1959, they took over the administration of men’s college with Brother Rooland van Geloven as the first Brother Principal. On 22nd March, 1962, the men’s and women’s ttc were registered by the chief education officer. On 7th November, 1963, a meeting was held in the Education Secretary’s office then in the catholic mission in Kisumu, to discuss arrangements on how to combine the two training centers(colleges) into one training college. It would be known as Asumbi Teachers’Training College.

In January 1964, the two centres were amalgamated into one. But this was a loose  amalgamation as the women were still studying on their own. It was not until 1967 that a full amalgamation was implemented. On 7th February 1966, the first P2 trainees were admitted to the college in response to the Bishop of Kisii Diocese’s request that Asumbi TTC be allowed to offer a P2 course. In 1967, Asumbi started offering P1 course.

In February 1968, the Americcan International Development(AID) started constructing new buildings in the college; classrooms, hostels, classrooms, hostels, kitchen, science lab, home science room and the Art-room were put up. With their completion, the student population increased to 240 and in the same year (1968) construction of a borehole near the staff quarters was completed.

Currently, the college offers Diploma in Primary Teacher Education(DPTE) and Diploma in Early Childhood Education(DECTE) courses which take three years.

The current student population stands at 1024. Of which 866 take Diploma in Primary Teacher Education(DPTE) while 158 undertake Diploma in Early Childhood Teacher Education(DECTE).

We also offer upgrading courses in Diploma in Primary Teacher Education which takes 1 year.

The current staffing stands at 32,that is 22 male lecturers and 10 female lecturers. We also have 56 non-teaching support staff.  In addition, there are 28 members of the student council.