Education

Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood and Physical Education

The Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood and Physical Education is a four-year programme that prepares students for teaching both early childhood education and physical education in schools. Students study child development, early childhood pedagogy, physical education theory, teaching methods, curriculum development and educational psychology, developing dual competencies for early years and physical education instruction.

Students develop competencies in early childhood teaching, physical education instruction, child development, motor skill development, curriculum development, classroom and sports management. They learn to teach young children foundational skills while also developing physical education programmes that promote health, fitness and motor coordination. The programme covers both early childhood pedagogy and physical education theory.

In Kenya, physical education is increasingly valued in schools as part of holistic learner development. The Competency-Based Curriculum emphasises physical activity and health education. TSC employs teachers with physical education qualifications. Kenya's focus on sports development, including athletic and football academies, creates demand for qualified PE teachers. Graduates find roles in primary schools, secondary schools, ECDE centres and sports organisations.

Teaching is delivered through lectures, practical PE sessions, teaching practice, micro-teaching, field visits and research projects. Students develop lesson plans for both early childhood and PE, teach classes and undertake teaching practice. The programme includes a final-year research project.

Graduates pursue careers as early childhood and PE teachers, primary school teachers, sports coordinators, ECDE teachers and education officers. Some work in primary schools teaching both early years and PE. Others join sports organisations or educational institutions.

This programme is ideal for individuals with energy, physical fitness and passion for working with young children. Students who enjoy both early childhood education and sports will find this programme particularly suitable.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 183,600
Private, up to: Ksh 188,100
Job market: Moderate

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 40 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Child Development and Psychology
Early Childhood Curriculum Development
Physical Education Theory and Practice
Motor Skill Development in Young Children
Educational Psychology for Young Learners
Teaching Methods for Early Childhood and PE
Health, Nutrition and Safety in Early Childhood
Sports Science and Athletics Education
Curriculum Development for PE
Research Methods in Education

Modules

12 in the programme

Introduction to Education
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Foundations of education including philosophy, history and sociology of education
Child Development and Psychology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Child Development and Psychology: Physical, cognitive, social and emotional development of young children Covers theoretical frameworks, research methods, and practical applications in psychology.
Physical Education Theory and Practice
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Foundations of physical education including movement, fitness and health principles
Early Childhood Curriculum Development
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Early Childhood Curriculum Development: Curriculum design for early childhood including physical activity components Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant sk...
Motor Skill Development in Young Children
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Development of fundamental motor skills in early childhood through structured activity
Teaching Methods for Early Childhood and PE
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Teaching Methods for Early Childhood and PE: Teaching strategies for both early childhood education and physical education Covers instructional strategies, assessment methods, and educational theory.
Sports Science and Athletics Education
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Sports Science and Athletics Education: Sports science principles and athletics coaching for school settings Covers instructional strategies, assessment methods, and educational theory.
Health, Nutrition and Safety in Early Childhood
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Health, Nutrition and Safety in Early Childhood: Health, nutrition and safety practices including physical activity guidelines Covers clinical principles, patient care protocols, and evidence-based...
Curriculum Development for PE
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Curriculum Development for PE: Curriculum design for physical education and CBC implementation Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Assessment and Evaluation
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Assessment and Evaluation: Assessment methods for early childhood and physical education Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Research Project
Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore
Independent research on early childhood and PE producing a scholarly dissertation
Teaching Practice
Year 4Semester 36 creditsCore
Teaching Practice: Supervised teaching practice delivering both early childhood and PE lessons Covers instructional strategies, assessment methods, and educational theory.

Specialisations

Motor Skill Development
Specialization in Motor Skill Development, preparing graduates for careers such as teacher. 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.
Early Childhood Teaching
Specialization in Early Childhood Teaching, preparing graduates for careers such as early-childhood-development-teacher.
Health Education
Specialization in Health Education, preparing graduates for careers such as teacher. 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.
Sports Coaching
Specialization in Sports Coaching, preparing graduates for careers such as pe-sports-coach. 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.
Physical Education Teaching
Specialization in Physical Education Teaching, preparing graduates for careers such as physical-education-teacher.
Curriculum Development
Specialization in Curriculum Development, preparing graduates for careers such as curriculum-developer.

A day as a student

A typical day combines morning lectures on child development or PE theory with afternoon practical sessions or teaching practice. Students may develop PE lesson plans, teach young children, practise sports coaching or work on motor skill development activities.

The trade offs

In its favour

Dual qualification in early childhood and PE
Physical activity is increasingly valued in Kenyan schools
Relevant to Kenya's sports development agenda
Diverse career paths in education and sports

Against it

Requires balancing two distinct teaching areas
PE facilities may be limited in some schools
May require additional sports coaching certifications
Some schools may not prioritise PE in early years

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 184k

110k at Garissa University184k at Kenyatta University

Private105k to 188k

105k at Mount Kenya University188k at Kabarak 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

KU 183,600/yr; Garissa 109,650/yr; Kabarak 188,100/yr; MKU 105,000/yr. Src: mawese, Tuko, Kabarak, MKU

Students may access HELB loans and county bursaries. Some schools and sports organisations offer stipends during teaching practice periods.

Funding options

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)
LoanKsh 60,000
National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF)
Bursary
County Government Bursaries
Bursary

Scholarships

4 recorded

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students admitted to recognised universities
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Residents of respective counties
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
BursaryKenyan
Kenyan undergraduate students placed by KUCCPS in public universities
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+
Alternative entry: Relevant diploma or equivalent qualification

English
C+
Mathematics A/B or any Group II
C
Any Group III subject
C+
Any Group III, IV or V subject
C+

How you are assessed

4 components

Research Project
Coursework100% of the mark
Final Examination
Coursework40% of the mark
Teaching Practice and PE Practicals
Coursework35% of the mark
Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs)
Coursework25% of the mark

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). TSC registration is required for teaching in public schools in Kenya.

Accredited by

Teachers Service Commission (TSC)
InstitutionalRequired
Commission for University Education (CUE)
InstitutionalRequired

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Education Officer
Moderate demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 130,000
Manages education programmes and supports PE initiatives
ECDE Teacher
High demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 90,000
Teaches young children in ECDE centres with physical activity focus
Early Childhood and PE Teacher
Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 110,000
Teaches both early childhood education and physical education in schools
Primary School Teacher
High demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 100,000
Teaches in primary schools with PE specialisation
Sports Coordinator
Moderate demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 120,000
Coordinates sports and physical education programmes in schools

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as early childhood and PE teachers, primary school teachers, sports coordinators, ECDE teachers and education officers in primary schools, secondary schools, ECDE centres and sports organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Microsoft Excel
SoftwarePrimary
Spreadsheet for educational data management, extension planning and IT project tracking.
PowerPoint
SoftwarePrimary
Presentation tool for teaching, farmer training and extension education sessions.
SPSS
Software
Statistical analysis software for educational and extension research.
Google Classroom
Software
Learning management system for agricultural education and online teaching.
KoboToolbox
Software
Mobile data collection tool for field surveys and extension needs assessment.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Physical education is just about playing sports
PE involves structured pedagogy, motor skill development, health education and curriculum design.
Early childhood and PE is an unusual combination
Physical activity is essential in early childhood development, making this combination valuable.
PE teaching is not a serious profession
PE teachers require professional training and TSC registration, same as other teachers.
There are limited jobs for PE teachers
Kenya's growing sports sector and CBC emphasis on physical activity create demand for PE teachers.