Education

Master of Education in Educational Planning and Management

The Master of Education in Educational Planning and Management is a postgraduate programme that combines educational planning expertise with management skills, equipping graduates for leadership roles in education sector planning, institutional management, and educational development. The programme prepares professionals to design education plans, manage educational institutions, and oversee education development projects.

Core areas of study include methodology of educational planning, quantitative analysis in educational planning, problems of educational planning in developing countries, financing of education, educational building and facilities planning, micro-project planning in education, population studies for educational planning, current issues in educational development, curriculum theory and design, research methodology, and thesis research. Students engage with planning and management challenges in developing country contexts.

The programme is offered by Moi University, Chuka University, and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, with Kibabii University listed as a college. Moi University offers the programme through its School of Education with a detailed curriculum spanning planning theory, quantitative methods, and project planning. The programme combines planning methodologies with management practice.

Students develop competencies in educational planning, quantitative analysis, project planning, education finance, facilities planning, population analysis for education, research methodology, institutional management, and strategic planning. The programme includes coursework, examinations, and a research thesis, with the first year devoted to coursework and proposal development and the second year to coursework, research, and thesis writing.

The programme is delivered over two academic years (four semesters) of full-time attendance, with part-time, school-based, evening, weekend, and virtual learning modes also available. The programme is designed for education planners, institutional managers, education officers, and development professionals seeking combined planning and management expertise.

Graduates pursue careers as education planners, education officers, institutional managers, project managers, educational consultants, policy analysts, and development specialists in government education departments, schools, colleges, NGOs, international organisations, and development agencies.

Skills Required

Educational Planning Methodology
Quantitative Analysis in Educational Planning
Education Project Planning and Management
Financing of Education and Budgeting
Educational Facilities Planning
Population Studies for Educational Planning
Institutional Management and Leadership
Educational Research Methods
Strategic Planning in Education
Education Policy Analysis

Key Subjects

Methodology of Educational Planning
Quantitative Analysis in Educational Planning
Problems of Educational Planning in Developing Countries
Financing of Education
Educational Building and Facilities Planning
Micro-Project Planning in Education
Population Studies for Educational Planning
Current Issues in Educational Development in Kenya
Research Design and Methodology
Curriculum Theory and Design

Certifications

KEMI Educational Planning Certification
UNESCO IIEP Training Certification

Specializations

Educational Planning Methodology

Focuses on educational planning methodologies, planning frameworks, education sector planning, and designing education development plans for developing country contexts.

Education Project Management

Examines micro-project planning in education, education project design, project implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and project management in education development.

Educational Finance and Resource Management

Covers financing of education, education budgeting, resource allocation, financial planning, and financial management in educational institutions and systems.

Educational Facilities Planning

Focuses on educational building and facilities planning, school infrastructure planning, facilities management, and physical resource planning for educational institutions.

Population and Education Planning

Examines population studies for educational planning, demographic analysis for education, enrolment projections, and the relationship between population dynamics and education planning.

Institutional Management

Covers institutional management theory, school management, educational administration, and operational management of educational institutions.

Education Policy and Development

Focuses on education policy analysis, current issues in educational development, education reforms, and the policy environment shaping education planning in Kenya and developing countries.

Curriculum Planning and Design

Examines curriculum theory and design, curriculum planning, curriculum development processes, and the relationship between curriculum and educational planning.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 157,750
Private, up to: Ksh 191,050
Job market: High

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time, Evening, Weekend, School-based, Online
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 20 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Methodology of Educational Planning
Quantitative Analysis in Educational Planning
Problems of Educational Planning in Developing Countries
Financing of Education
Educational Building and Facilities Planning
Micro-Project Planning in Education
Population Studies for Educational Planning
Current Issues in Educational Development in Kenya
Research Design and Methodology
Curriculum Theory and Design

Modules

10 in the programme

Basic Course in Curriculum Theory and Design
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines curriculum theory, curriculum design models, and the relationship between curriculum and educational planning in developing country contexts.
Research Design and Methodology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers qualitative and quantitative research methodologies for conducting original research in educational planning and management, including research design.
Problems of Educational Planning in Developing Countries
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines problems and challenges of educational planning in developing countries, including resource constraints, capacity limitations, and contextual challenges.
Methodology of Educational Planning
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers educational planning methodologies, planning frameworks, education sector planning processes, and approaches to designing education development plans.
Educational Building and Facilities Planning
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines educational building and facilities planning, school infrastructure planning, facilities management, and physical resource planning for educational institutions.
Current Issues in Educational Development in Kenya
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers current issues in educational development in Kenya, emerging challenges, education reforms, and contemporary trends in education policy and planning.
Financing of Education
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines financing of education, education budgeting, resource allocation, education funding sources, and financial planning in the education sector.
Quantitative Analysis in Educational Planning
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers quantitative analysis methods for education planning, including enrolment projections, resource modelling, and statistical tools for planning decisions.
Micro-Project Planning in Education
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines micro-project planning in education, education project design, project management, and implementation planning for education development projects.
Thesis Research
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on an educational planning and management topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and planning theory, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Educational Planning Methodology
Focuses on educational planning methodologies, planning frameworks, education sector planning, and designing education development plans for developing country contexts.
Education Project Management
Examines micro-project planning in education, education project design, project implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and project management in education development.
Educational Finance and Resource Management
Covers financing of education, education budgeting, resource allocation, financial planning, and financial management in educational institutions and systems.
Educational Facilities Planning
Focuses on educational building and facilities planning, school infrastructure planning, facilities management, and physical resource planning for educational institutions.
Population and Education Planning
Examines population studies for educational planning, demographic analysis for education, enrolment projections, and the relationship between population dynamics and education planning.
Institutional Management
Covers institutional management theory, school management, educational administration, and operational management of educational institutions.
Education Policy and Development
Focuses on education policy analysis, current issues in educational development, education reforms, and the policy environment shaping education planning in Kenya and developing countries.
Curriculum Planning and Design
Examines curriculum theory and design, curriculum planning, curriculum development processes, and the relationship between curriculum and educational planning.

A day as a student

A typical day involves attending lectures at Moi University's School of Education on educational planning methodology, quantitative analysis, or financing of education. Students engage in seminar discussions analysing planning problems in developing countries, education finance challenges, and project planning case studies. Group projects involve developing education plans, designing micro-projects, or conducting quantitative analysis of education data. Research methodology sessions prepare students for their thesis, with the first year devoted to coursework and proposal development. The curriculum includes specialised topics like educational building and facilities planning, population studies for educational planning, and current issues in educational development in Kenya. Guest lectures from Ministry of Education planners, KEMI trainers, and international development consultants provide real-world insights. Those in the thesis phase conduct independent research on educational planning and management topics, working under faculty supervision.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme combines planning methodologies with management skills, with specific focus on developing country contexts directly relevant to Kenya.
Moi University offers multiple study modes including regular, school-based, and virtual learning, accommodating diverse student needs.
Programme includes unique modules like educational building and facilities planning, and population studies for educational planning.
Kenya's education reforms, devolution, and SDG 4 implementation create strong demand for qualified education planners and managers.

Against it

Programme is offered at only three public universities, limiting geographic access for prospective students.
No private university offers this programme, limiting options for students preferring private institution environments.
Quantitative analysis components may be challenging for students without strong mathematics or statistics backgrounds.
Programme may overlap with other MEd specialisations in educational planning and administration, potentially causing confusion about distinct value.

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

Public120k to 158k

120k at Chuka University158k at Moi University

Private165k to 191k

165k at Kabarak University191k 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

Moi unverified. Chuka M.Ed 119,000/yr. AIU 95,525/sem, Kabarak 82,600/sem (official PDFs)

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 and management training. UNESCO IIEP offers complementary training programmes. The programme's focus on developing country contexts attracts development sector funding.

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 157,750Kenyan
TSC-employed teachers may be granted study leave with sponsorship for postgraduate education in educational planning and management.
KEMI Training Sponsorship
ScholarshipKsh 150,000Kenyan
Education officers and planners may be sponsored by KEMI or county governments for educational planning and management 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, school-based, evening, weekend, and virtual learning modes. Application fee is KES 2,000. The programme runs for two academic years (four semesters). Designed for education planners, institutional managers, education officers, and development professionals.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment
Coursework40% of the mark
CATs, planning analysis essays, project design exercises, quantitative analysis assignments, and seminar presentations conducted throughout each semester.
Practical Projects
Practical20% of the mark
Practical assessment involving education plan development, micro-project design, facilities planning exercises, and quantitative analysis projects.
Final Examination
Examination40% of the mark
End-of-semester examination covering educational planning theory, quantitative methods, finance, and management, including essay questions and quantitative analysis.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on an educational planning and management 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). Moi University, Chuka University, and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology are all CUE-accredited public universities. 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. Moi University, Chuka University, and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology are all CUE-accredited public universities.
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 managers.

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.
Institutional Manager
High demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 350,000
Manages educational institutions, overseeing academic programmes, staff management, financial planning, facilities management, and institutional development.
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, management, and development for schools, NGOs, government agencies, or international organisations.
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.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as education planners, education officers, institutional managers, project managers, 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 management.
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 and management is just about creating school timetables.
The programme covers strategic education sector planning, project planning, facilities planning, population analysis, education finance, and institutional management at local and national levels.
This programme is only for government education planners.
Graduates work in schools, colleges, universities, NGOs, international development organisations, and private sector, applying planning and management expertise across diverse settings.
You need a strong 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 relevance in Kenya.
Kenya's education reforms, devolution, SDG 4 implementation, and growing demand for evidence-based planning create strong demand for qualified education planners and managers.
This programme duplicates other MEd specialisations.
The combined focus on planning methodologies and management skills, with emphasis on developing country contexts, provides unique expertise for education development in Kenya and beyond.
Planning and management are separate fields that should not be combined.
The combination provides a comprehensive skill set connecting strategic planning with institutional management, essential for effective education sector leadership.