Education

Master of Education in Educational Planning and Administration

The Master of Education in Educational Planning and Administration is a postgraduate programme that combines educational planning expertise with administrative skills, equipping graduates for leadership roles in education sector planning, policy development, and institutional administration. The programme prepares professionals to design, implement, and evaluate education plans and manage educational institutions effectively.

Core areas of study include educational planning methodologies, quantitative analysis in education planning, education policy analysis, educational administration theory, human resource management in education, financing of education, economics of education, cost-benefit analysis in education, educational statistics, project planning in education, current issues in education, and research methods. Students engage with both planning challenges and administrative dilemmas in the education sector.

The programme is offered by numerous Kenyan universities including the University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, Maseno University, and many others. The University of Nairobi offers educational planning and administration through its Department of Educational Management, Policy and Curriculum Studies. The programme combines planning theory with administrative practice.

Students develop competencies in educational planning, policy analysis, institutional administration, quantitative analysis, financial planning, project management, human resource management, research methodology, and strategic planning. The programme includes coursework, examinations, and a thesis or project, with 18 course units over two years.

The programme is delivered over two years with full-time, part-time, and ODeL modes available. Coursework includes common mandatory courses in the first year and specialised courses in the second year. The programme is designed for education planners, administrators, policy practitioners, and education officers seeking combined planning and administrative expertise.

Graduates pursue careers as education planners, education officers, school administrators, policy analysts, educational consultants, project managers, and institutional leaders in government education departments, schools, colleges, universities, NGOs, and international organisations.

Skills Required

Educational Planning Methodologies
Quantitative Analysis in Education Planning
Educational Administration and Governance
Education Policy Analysis and Development
Financing of Education and Budgeting
Economics of Education
Cost-Benefit Analysis in Education
Project Planning and Management in Education
Educational Statistics and Data Analysis
Research Methods in Education

Key Subjects

Educational Planning Methodologies
Quantitative Analysis in Education Planning
Educational Administration Theory
Financing of Education
Economics of Education
Cost-Benefit Analysis in Education
Education Policy Analysis
Project Planning in Education
Educational Statistics and Computer Applications
Research Methods in Education

Certifications

KEMI Educational Planning Certification
UNESCO IIEP Training Certification

Specializations

Educational Planning

Focuses on educational planning methodologies, education sector planning, strategic planning in education, and designing education development plans.

Educational Administration

Examines educational administration theory, institutional governance, school administration, and administrative systems in educational institutions.

Economics of Education

Covers economics of education, education and economic growth, human capital theory, equity and efficiency in education, and economic analysis of education.

Education Finance and Budgeting

Focuses on financing of education, education budgeting, resource allocation, cost-benefit analysis, and financial planning in education.

Education Policy Analysis

Examines education policy analysis, policy development processes, policy implementation, and evaluating policy impact in education.

Project Planning in Education

Covers project planning methodology, education project design, project management, monitoring and evaluation, and education project implementation.

Educational Statistics and Data Analysis

Focuses on educational statistics, quantitative methods for education planning, data analysis for education management, and education indicators.

Human Resource Planning in Education

Examines HR planning in education, teacher deployment planning, staff development planning, and human resource management in educational institutions.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 278,300
Private, up to: Ksh 209,292
Job market: High

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time, School-based, Blended, Online
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 25 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Educational Planning Methodologies
Quantitative Analysis in Education Planning
Educational Administration Theory
Financing of Education
Economics of Education
Cost-Benefit Analysis in Education
Education Policy Analysis
Project Planning in Education
Educational Statistics and Computer Applications
Research Methods in Education

Modules

10 in the programme

Research Methods in Education
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers qualitative and quantitative research methodologies for conducting original research in educational planning and administration, including research design and data analysis.
Educational Statistics and Computer Applications
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines educational statistics, quantitative methods, computer applications for education data analysis, and statistical tools for education planning.
Methodologies in Educational Planning
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers educational planning methodologies, planning frameworks, education sector planning processes, and approaches to designing education development plans.
Quantitative Analysis in Education Planning
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines quantitative analysis methods for education planning, including enrolment projections, resource modelling, and statistical tools for planning decisions.
Financing of Education
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers financing of education, education budgeting, resource allocation, education funding sources, and financial planning in the education sector.
Economics of Education
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines economics of education, education and economic growth, human capital theory, and the economic dimensions of education policy and planning.
Cost-Benefit Analysis in Education
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers cost-benefit analysis methods applied to education, including returns to education, cost-effectiveness analysis, and economic evaluation of education programmes.
Project Planning in Education
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines project planning methodology, education project design, project management, and implementation planning for education development projects.
Current Issues in Education
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines contemporary issues in education, emerging challenges in educational planning and administration, education reforms, and current trends in education policy.
Research Proposal and Thesis Writing
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on an educational planning and administration topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and planning theory, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Educational Planning
Focuses on educational planning methodologies, education sector planning, strategic planning in education, and designing education development plans.
Educational Administration
Examines educational administration theory, institutional governance, school administration, and administrative systems in educational institutions.
Economics of Education
Covers economics of education, education and economic growth, human capital theory, equity and efficiency in education, and economic analysis of education.
Education Finance and Budgeting
Focuses on financing of education, education budgeting, resource allocation, cost-benefit analysis, and financial planning in education.
Education Policy Analysis
Examines education policy analysis, policy development processes, policy implementation, and evaluating policy impact in education.
Project Planning in Education
Covers project planning methodology, education project design, project management, monitoring and evaluation, and education project implementation.
Educational Statistics and Data Analysis
Focuses on educational statistics, quantitative methods for education planning, data analysis for education management, and education indicators.
Human Resource Planning in Education
Examines HR planning in education, teacher deployment planning, staff development planning, and human resource management in educational institutions.

A day as a student

A typical day involves attending lectures at the University of Nairobi's Faculty of Education on educational planning methodologies, quantitative analysis, or education finance. Students engage in seminar discussions analysing education sector plans, policy documents, and planning case studies. Group projects involve developing education plans, conducting cost-benefit analyses, or designing education projects. Research methodology and statistics sessions prepare students for their thesis, with computer applications training for educational data analysis. The programme includes 18 course units, with common mandatory courses in the first year and specialised courses in the second year. Guest lectures from Ministry of Education planners, KEMI trainers, and international education consultants provide real-world insights. Those in the thesis phase conduct independent research on educational planning topics, working under faculty supervision.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme combines planning methodologies with administrative skills, providing versatile expertise for education sector leadership and policy roles.
Programme is widely offered at over 60 Kenyan universities with multiple study modes including full-time, part-time, and ODeL.
Kenya's education reforms, devolution, and SDG 4 implementation create strong demand for qualified education planners and administrators.
Programme includes quantitative analysis and statistics, providing data-driven planning skills valued in evidence-based education policy.

Against it

With over 60 offering institutions, programme quality and content may vary significantly between universities.
University of Nairobi fees of approximately KES 278,300 per year are relatively high compared to other public universities.
The broad scope combining planning and administration may mean less depth in either area compared to specialised programmes.
Quantitative analysis components may be challenging for students without strong mathematics or statistics backgrounds.

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

Public246k to 278k

246k at Kenyatta University278k at University of Nairobi

Private187k to 209k

187k at Catholic University of Eastern Africa209k at KCA 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 E55:278,300/yr. KU 246,000/yr. KCA & CUEA from official fee schedules 2025

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. TSC may grant study leave with sponsorship for teachers pursuing postgraduate education. KEMI may sponsor education officers for planning training. UNESCO IIEP offers training programmes that may complement the degree.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
TSC Study Leave Sponsorship
KEMI Training Sponsorship

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
TSC Study Leave Sponsorship
ScholarshipKsh 278,300Kenyan
TSC-employed teachers may be granted study leave with sponsorship for postgraduate education in educational planning and administration.
KEMI Training Sponsorship
ScholarshipKsh 150,000Kenyan
Education officers and planners may be sponsored by KEMI or county governments for educational planning and administration training.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: The programme is available in full-time, part-time, ODeL, and blended modes. The programme runs for two years with 18 course units. Applicants specialising in economics of education and educational planning should have prior exposure to economics and mathematics at undergraduate level. Designed for education planners, administrators, policy practitioners, and education officers.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment
Coursework40% of the mark
CATs, planning analysis essays, policy brief writing, cost-benefit analysis exercises, project design assignments, and seminar presentations conducted throughout each semester.
Practical Projects
Practical20% of the mark
Practical assessment involving education plan development, project design exercises, quantitative analysis projects, and institutional planning case studies.
Final Examination
Examination40% of the mark
End-of-semester examination covering educational planning theory, administration, economics, and statistics, including essay questions and quantitative analysis.
Research Thesis or Project
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis or project on an educational planning and administration topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and planning theory, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, Maseno University, Egerton University, and all other offering institutions are CUE-accredited. The programme aligns with Ministry of Education planning frameworks and KEMI professional standards.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, Maseno University, Egerton University, and all other offering institutions are CUE-accredited.
Kenya Education Management Institute (KEMI)
Professional certification
KEMI is Kenya's educational management training institute. Graduates may pursue KEMI certification for professional recognition as education planners and administrators.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Education Planner
High demandKsh 85,000 to Ksh 320,000
Develops education plans and strategies for government education departments, NGOs, or international organisations, overseeing education sector planning and development.
Education Officer
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 300,000
Works in county or national education offices, overseeing education policy implementation, school supervision, and planning activities.
School Administrator
High demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 350,000
Manages schools and educational institutions, overseeing academic programmes, staff management, financial planning, and institutional development.
Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 85,000 to Ksh 320,000
Analyses education policy issues for government agencies, think tanks, or international organisations, providing evidence-based policy recommendations.
Education Project Manager
High demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 400,000
Manages education development projects for NGOs, international organisations, or government, overseeing project design, implementation, and evaluation.
Educational Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 400,000
Provides consulting services on educational planning, policy, and administration for schools, NGOs, government agencies, or international organisations.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as education planners, education officers, school administrators, policy analysts, and educational consultants in government, schools, NGOs, and international organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

SPSS
SoftwarePrimary
Statistical analysis software for educational planning research, including enrolment projections, survey data analysis, and education indicator computation.
Stata
SoftwarePrimary
Statistical software for quantitative analysis in education planning, including econometric analysis, cost-benefit analysis, and education data modelling.
Microsoft Excel
Software
Spreadsheet software for education planning, budgeting, data analysis, and financial modelling in educational administration.
NVivo
Software
Qualitative data analysis software for analysing interview data, policy documents, and qualitative research in educational planning studies.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Educational planning is just about scheduling classes and timetables.
The programme covers strategic education sector planning, policy development, resource allocation, economic analysis, and project planning at local, national, and international levels.
This programme is only for government education officers.
Graduates work in schools, colleges, universities, NGOs, international organisations, and private sector, applying planning and administrative expertise across diverse settings.
You need a mathematics background to study educational planning.
While quantitative skills are valuable, the programme develops statistical and analytical skills from foundational levels, preparing students from diverse educational backgrounds.
Educational planning has limited career prospects in Kenya.
Kenya's education reforms, devolution, SDG 4 implementation, and growing demand for evidence-based planning create strong career opportunities for qualified education planners.
Planning and administration are separate fields that should not be combined.
The combination of planning and administration provides a comprehensive skill set for education sector leadership, connecting strategic planning with institutional management.
This programme duplicates other MEd specialisations.
The combined focus on planning methodologies and administrative skills provides unique expertise at the intersection of education sector planning and institutional administration.