Education

Doctor of Philosophy in Early Childhood and Primary Education

The Doctor of Philosophy in Early Childhood and Primary Education is a postgraduate research programme offered at Kenyatta University through the Department of Early Childhood and Special Needs Education in the School of Education. The programme trains scholars to conduct advanced research on early childhood development, primary education, and child development, contributing to educational theory and practice for young learners in Kenya and globally.

Students engage with advanced child development theory, early childhood education research, primary curriculum studies, educational assessment for young learners, and research methodology. The programme combines coursework with thesis research, requiring candidates to develop a research proposal, conduct independent field research, and produce a doctoral dissertation that makes an original contribution to early childhood and primary education.

Kenya has made significant investments in early childhood education through the CBC reform and the 100% transition policy from primary to secondary education. The programme addresses national education priorities under Vision 2030 and the Kenya Education Sector Support Programme by training researchers who can inform early childhood policy, primary education practice, and child development interventions.

Teaching methods include lectures, research seminars, field research in schools and ECD centres, and supervised thesis work. Students have access to KU's Early Childhood and Special Needs Education department resources and conduct research in diverse educational settings across Kenya.

Graduates pursue careers as university lecturers, early childhood education researchers, primary education consultants, curriculum developers, and policy analysts in universities, KICD, the Ministry of Education, UNICEF, and international education organisations.

This programme is ideal for holders of a Master's degree in early childhood education, primary education, or related education fields who are committed to advancing knowledge in early childhood and primary education.

Duration: 3-5 years
Public, up to: Ksh 336,600
Private, up to: Ksh 310,200
Job market: Moderate

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 8 students
Award: PhD

What you study

10 subjects

Child Development Theory
Early Childhood Education Research
Primary Curriculum Studies
Educational Assessment for Young Learners
Research Methodology
Special Needs in Early Childhood
Thesis Research
Play-Based Learning Research
Statistics for Education
Educational Policy for Young Children

Modules

12 in the programme

Advanced Child Development Theory
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced study of child development theories including Piaget, Vygotsky, Bronfenbrenner, and contemporary perspectives on cognitive, social, and emotional development
Early Childhood Development Theory
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Theory of early childhood development, examining foundational principles, conceptual frameworks, and theoretical debates that shape contemporary understanding in this field.
Early Childhood Education Research
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Research methods and issues in early childhood education including longitudinal studies, observational research, and intervention research
Primary Education Pedagogy
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Pedagogy for primary education, examining pedagogical theories, educational frameworks, and their application in teaching, learning, and curriculum development.
Primary Curriculum Studies and Reform
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Analysis of primary curriculum frameworks including CBC, competency-based assessment, and curriculum implementation in Kenyan primary schools
Curriculum Design for Early Years
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Curriculum design for early years, covering design principles, methodologies, and practical approaches to creating effective solutions in professional contexts.
Educational Assessment for Young Learners
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Assessment methods for young children including formative assessment, developmental screening, and age-appropriate evaluation techniques
Child Psychology and Learning
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Psychology of child learning, examining pedagogical theories, educational frameworks, and their application in teaching, learning, and curriculum development.
Special Needs in Early Childhood Education
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Research on inclusive early childhood education including identification, intervention, and support for children with special needs
Assessment in Early Years Education
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Assessment in early years, covering assessment design, evaluation methodologies, data-driven decision-making, and quality assurance processes.
Play-Based Learning and Pedagogy
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Research on play-based learning approaches including the role of play in cognitive development, play-based pedagogy, and learning through play
Research Methods in Early Childhood Education
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Research design and methodology, covering quantitative and qualitative approaches, data collection techniques, and analytical frameworks relevant to doctoral-level research in the field.

Specialisations

School Counselling Practice
Specialization in School Counselling Practice, preparing graduates for careers such as school-counsellor.
Academic Research in Education
Specialization in Academic Research in Education, preparing graduates for careers such as university-lecturer.
Curriculum Development Research
Specialization in Curriculum Development Research, preparing graduates for careers such as curriculum-developer.
Health Education Research
Specialization in Health Education Research, preparing graduates for careers such as health-educator.
Public Health and Education Policy
Specialization in Public Health and Education Policy, preparing graduates for careers such as public-health-specialist.
Early Childhood Teaching
Specialization in Early Childhood Teaching, preparing graduates for careers such as early-childhood-development-teacher.
Inclusive Early Education
Research on inclusive education for young learners
Early Childhood Development
Research on early childhood development
Primary Education Pedagogy
Research on primary education pedagogy
Early Years Curriculum
Research on early years curriculum

A day as a student

A typical day combines research on child development and early learning with data analysis from school-based studies, literature review, and thesis writing. Students attend education research seminars, present findings at departmental colloquia, and engage with ECD centres and primary schools for field research.

The trade offs

In its favour

Directly relevant to Kenya's CBC reform which begins with early years education
Access to KICD, UNICEF and UNESCO for research
Growing national and international focus on early childhood development
Opportunities for international collaboration through UNICEF and UNESCO

Against it

School-based research requires coordination with schools
Career advancement may require additional professional certifications
Field research with young children requires special ethical considerations
Early childhood education is sometimes undervalued in academic settings

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

Public320k to 337k

320k at University of Nairobi337k at Kenyatta University

Private250k to 310k

250k at Mount Kenya University310k 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 ECDE 337K verified ku.ac.ke; UoN 320K uonbi.ac.ke; MKU 250K victormatara; Kabarak 310K kabarak.ac.ke

Students may access HELB postgraduate loans, DAAD scholarships, NRF research grants, and UNICEF research fellowships for early childhood education research.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 80,000
DAAD Scholarship
Scholarship
NRF Research Grant
Grant
UNICEF Research Fellowship
Fellowship

Scholarships

5 recorded

NRF Research Grant
GrantKenyan
Researchers at Kenyan institutions conducting research relevant to national development
DAAD Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
African graduates meeting academic criteria for doctoral study
DAAD Kenya Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
Postgraduate students in Kenya
HELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students
UNESCO Research Grant
Grant
Education researchers

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

Master's Degree
MEd or MA in Early Childhood Education, Primary Education, or Education from a recognised university
Undergraduate qualification
Bachelor's degree in Education or related field
Research capability
Evidence of research ability through publications, reports, or academic work

How you are assessed

5 components

Coursework
Continuous assessment30% of the mark
Assignments, curriculum projects and seminar presentations
Thesis
Thesis50% of the mark
Doctoral thesis research, submission and oral defence
Thesis Examination
Coursework100% of the mark
Research Seminars
Coursework20% of the mark
Oral Viva Voce
Coursework100% of the mark

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE).

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Mandatory accreditation for all university programmes in Kenya
Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Statutory body responsible for accreditation of university programmes in Kenya

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

7 roles

University Lecturer (Education)
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Teaches early childhood and primary education and conducts research in university education departments
Curriculum Developer (ECD/Primary)
High demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 160,000
Develops and evaluates early childhood and primary curriculum at KICD or educational publishers
Early Childhood Education Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 160,000
Conducts early childhood education research at KICD, research institutions, or international organisations
Education Consultant (ECD)
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Advises government, UNICEF, and NGOs on early childhood development and primary education programmes
Teacher Educator
High demandKsh 160,000 to Ksh 400,000
Training teachers at universities and colleges
Curriculum Developer
High demandKsh 170,000 to Ksh 420,000
Curriculum at KICD
University Professor
High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in education departments

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as university lecturers, early childhood education researchers, primary education consultants, and curriculum developers in universities, KICD, the Ministry of Education, UNICEF, and international education organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Early childhood education research is not serious academic work
Early childhood education research encompasses child development theory, cognitive science, curriculum design, assessment, and policy analysis, requiring rigorous academic training and research.
A PhD in early childhood education has limited career prospects
Kenya's investment in early childhood education through CBC and the 100% transition policy creates demand for researchers at universities, KICD, the Ministry of Education, and UNICEF.
Early childhood education research is not relevant to Kenya
Kenya's CBC reform begins with early years education, making research on child development, early learning, and primary education critical for national education development.
Early childhood education is just about playing with children
Early childhood education involves understanding child development, designing age-appropriate curricula, assessing learning outcomes, and creating supportive learning environments based on scientific evidence.

Related courses

Doctor of philosophy in curriculum and instruction