Education

Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary Education)

The Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary Education) is a four-year degree programme offered at several Kenyan public universities.

The curriculum covers child development, early childhood education theory, primary education pedagogy, curriculum design, educational psychology, assessment and evaluation, teaching methods for core subjects (English, Kiswahili, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies), inclusive education, educational technology, classroom management, research methods, and education policy.

Students develop skills in lesson planning, classroom management, child assessment, curriculum development, inclusive teaching, educational technology integration, parent engagement, research methodology, and reflective practice.

Graduates pursue careers as early childhood teachers, primary school teachers, curriculum developers, education administrators, school counsellors, and education consultants. They find employment in public and private primary schools, ECDE centres, international schools, NGOs, education ministries, and curriculum development organisations.

The programme is offered at Garissa University (public, KES 109,650 per year), University of Eldoret (public, KES 183,600 per year), University of Kabianga (public, KES 183,600 per year), and Rongo University (public). KUCCPS codes are 1096680 (Garissa), 1114680 (UoE), and 1118680 (Kabianga).

Accreditation is provided by the Commission for University Education (CUE), the statutory body responsible for quality assurance and regulation of university education in Kenya. Admission requires a KCSE mean grade of C+ (Plus) with at least C (Plain) in English and D+ (Plus) in Mathematics.

Duration: 4 Years
Public, up to: Ksh 263,000
Private, up to: Ksh 175,050
Job market: High

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 50 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Child Development
Early Childhood Education Theory
Primary Education Pedagogy
Curriculum Design
Educational Psychology
Assessment and Evaluation
Teaching Methods for Core Subjects
Inclusive Education
Educational Technology
Education Policy

Modules

12 in the programme

Child Development and Psychology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Theories of child development, cognitive and social-emotional development in early childhood.
Foundations of Early Childhood Education
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Historical, philosophical, and theoretical foundations of early childhood education.
Curriculum Design and Development
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Principles of curriculum design, the CBC framework, and curriculum implementation in primary education.
Teaching Methods for Core Subjects
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Pedagogical methods for teaching English, Kiswahili, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies.
Educational Psychology
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Psychological principles applied to learning, motivation, and classroom behaviour management.
Assessment and Evaluation in Education
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Formative and summative assessment methods, competency-based assessment, and evaluation techniques.
Inclusive Education and Special Needs
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Teaching learners with special needs, inclusive classroom practices, and differentiation strategies.
Educational Technology and Digital Literacy
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Integration of digital tools, educational apps, and technology in early childhood and primary education.
Research Methods in Education
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Research Methods in Education: Quantitative and qualitative research methods applied to educational research. Covers quantitative and qualitative approaches, data collection, analysis, and reporting.
Education Policy and School Administration
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Kenya's education policy framework, school administration, and educational leadership.
Teaching Practice and Micro-Teaching
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Supervised teaching practice in primary schools and ECDE centres, including micro-teaching sessions.
Research Project and Teaching Practice Attachment
Year 4Semester 26 creditsCore
Supervised teaching practice attachment and a final-year research project on an education topic.

Specialisations

Early Childhood Education
Focus on child development, ECDE pedagogy, and teaching methods for pre-primary learners. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Primary Education
Focus on curriculum delivery, assessment, and teaching methods for primary school learners. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Inclusive Education
Focus on teaching learners with special needs and inclusive classroom practices. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Educational Technology
Focus on integrating digital tools and technology in early childhood and primary education. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Curriculum Development
Focus on designing, implementing, and evaluating curricula for early childhood and primary education.
Educational Leadership
Focus on school administration, leadership, and education policy for primary and ECDE institutions. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.

A day as a student

A typical day combines lectures, seminars, and micro-teaching sessions. Morning sessions cover child development theory, curriculum design, and teaching methods, while afternoons focus on micro-teaching practice, educational technology workshops, and lesson planning. Students participate in teaching practice placements at primary schools and ECDE centres, engage with guest speakers from KICD and TSC, and conduct community-based learning projects. The programme emphasises practical teaching skills aligned with Kenya's Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).

The trade offs

In its favour

High demand for qualified early childhood and primary teachers driven by Kenya's CBC reforms.
Offered at four public universities with affordable tuition starting from KES 109,650/year.
TSC registration enables employment in public schools with pensionable terms.
Comprehensive curriculum covering both ECDE and primary education, broadening career options.

Against it

Teaching practice requires significant time commitment and may involve placement in remote areas.
Public school teacher salaries are modest compared to other professions requiring similar education.
TSC registration is required for public school employment, adding an additional step after graduation.
Class sizes in Kenyan public schools can be large, posing classroom management challenges.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 243 education courses

Public110k to 263k

110k at Garissa University263k at University of Nairobi

Private107k to 175k

107k at KCA University175k at Africa International University

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

UoN 263K, Garissa 109,650/yr (KUCCPS). KCA 107,430, AIU 175,050/yr (KUCCPS).

HELB loans and Higher Education Fund (HEF) support are available for qualifying Kenyan students. County government bursaries and TSC teacher training scholarships may also be available.

Funding options

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
County Government Bursaries

Scholarships

4 recorded

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
Government loanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students admitted to recognised universities. Must demonstrate financial need.
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
Government fundingKenyan
Kenyan students in public universities under the new funding model based on financial need assessment.
County Government Bursaries
Government bursaryKenyan
Kenyan students from respective counties demonstrating financial need.
TSC Teacher Training Support
BursaryKenyan
Teachers and trainee teachers in recognised institutions

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+ (Plus)
Alternative entry: KACE with at least two principal passes and one subsidiary pass; OR a Diploma in Education (with Credit or Distinction) from a recognised institution; OR P1 certificate holders with a Diploma in Education and KCSE C (Plain) with C (Plain) in English and D+ in Mathematics may also be considered.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests and Assignments
Coursework30% of the mark
Written tests, lesson plans, micro-teaching assessments, and assignments throughout the semester.
Teaching Practice and Micro-Teaching
Practical20% of the mark
Supervised teaching practice in schools, micro-teaching sessions, and lesson delivery assessments.
End of Semester Examinations
Examination50% of the mark
Written examinations covering all course content for the semester.
Research Project and Teaching Practice Attachment
Project100% of the mark
Supervised teaching practice attachment in primary schools or ECDE centres plus a final-year research project.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE), the statutory body responsible for quality assurance and regulation of university education in Kenya. Graduates must register with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to teach in public schools.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
CUE is the statutory body responsible for the accreditation and quality assurance of university programmes in Kenya.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Early Childhood Teacher (ECDE)
High demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 90,000
Teaches in ECDE centres and pre-primary schools, supporting child development and early learning.
Primary School Teacher
High demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 120,000
Teaches core subjects in primary schools under the CBC curriculum.
Curriculum Developer
Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 180,000
Develops and evaluates curricula for early childhood and primary education at KICD or educational organisations.
Education Administrator
Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 200,000
Manages school operations, supervises teaching staff, and oversees educational programmes.
School Counsellor
Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 150,000
Provides guidance and counselling to primary school learners and supports child wellbeing.
Education Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 200,000
Advises schools, NGOs, and education organisations on curriculum, pedagogy, and policy.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as early childhood and primary school teachers in public and private schools, with high demand driven by Kenya's CBC curriculum reforms and universal basic education goals.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Microsoft Office Suite
ProductivityPrimary
Essential tools for lesson planning, assessment records, and educational documentation.
Google Classroom
Educational technologyPrimary
Digital learning platform for managing classes, assignments, and student communication.
KICD CBC Curriculum Materials
Curriculum resources
Official curriculum materials and competency-based curriculum guides from KICD.
SPSS
Statistical analysis
Statistical software for educational research and data analysis.
Khan Academy Kids
Educational technology
Digital learning platform supporting early childhood and primary education content.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

This degree only qualifies you to teach in pre-primary schools.
The programme qualifies graduates to teach in both ECDE centres and primary schools, covering the full early childhood and primary education spectrum.
Early childhood education is just babysitting.
The programme covers child development theory, pedagogy, curriculum design, and assessment, requiring professional knowledge and skills.
There are no jobs for early childhood teachers in Kenya.
Demand is high due to Kenya's commitment to universal pre-primary education and the CBC curriculum reforms.
Primary school teaching does not require a degree.
The Teachers Service Commission requires a degree for teacher registration and employment in public primary schools.