Thousands of students pursuing a Diploma in Early Childhood Education face an uncertain future following a controversial directive by the Ministry of Education.
The Ministry has directed the merger of the Diploma in ECDE with the Diploma in Primary Teacher Education, plunging the students into confusion.
The move has sparked outrage among MPs, education stakeholders and governors who are now calling on Education PS Julius Bitok to immediately withdraw the directive and stop disrupting students set to sit exams next month.
In a petition before the Senate, the stakeholders—including the Early Childhood Professional Association of Kenya (ECPAK) warn that merging the two programmes into a single Diploma in Teacher Education risks undermining the specialised three-year ECDE training.
They argue the merger could dilute the pedagogical focus on young learners and compromise the quality of early childhood education.
“Early childhood education remains the most mismanaged and discriminated sector in the country. Decisions affecting policy are often taken without consulting relevant stakeholders,” Dr John Tera Ng’asike said.
Ng'asike is the leader of the Early Childhood Professional Association of Kenya.
“We petition the Ministry of Education to withdraw the circular immediately. The merger of ECDE and Primary Diploma appears aimed at abolishing ECDE training in Kenya. It suggests that PP1 and PP2 children would be taught under the same curriculum as primary school pupils, undermining specialised early learning,” he added.
The petitioners argue that the merger contravenes constitutional provisions and undermines the core pedagogical philosophy of ECDE, which emphasises child-centred, hands-on, play-based learning.
According to ECPAK, fragmenting teacher training in this way may limit the ability of educators to deliver effective learning outcomes, as ECDE teachers would struggle to acquire skills in both subject content and early childhood pedagogical practices.
The Council of Governors through its Education Committee chaired by Eric Mutai (Kericho) warned that if the merger proceeds without proper evaluation of the differences between ECDE and primary education, the quality of early learning could be severely compromised.
He also highlighted the financial implications, noting that county governments could face losses of up to Sh12 billion.
“This circular is illegal and an affront to devolution,” Mutai said.
“It was issued without public participation, and issuing such a directive while students are already in class disrupts long-established career pathways for ECDE professionals. It threatens systematic progression from Diploma to postgraduate levels.”
The Council of Governors recommends that the Diploma in ECDE Teacher Education remain a separate, specialised qualification aligned with both county and national priorities.
They stressed that the merger exposes gaps in policy, professional standards, and implementation that could undermine the integrity of early childhood teacher training.
Mutai said the Ministry of Education has failed to provide a policy framework or clear implementation plan for the new system.
“The circular was issued on January 19, 2026, yet the first intake of trainees began in September 2024. These students are already in their second year, and this sudden directive disrupts their learning and future career prospects. Education reforms must preserve pedagogical specialisation and professional integrity,” he said.
The Kenya Early Childhood Education Private Training Institutions Association (KECEPTIA) also weighed in, noting that pre-primary and primary education serve distinct developmental roles.
KECEPTIA National Chairman James Selei recommended that ECDE training, including both the Certificate and Diploma programmes, should adopt a school-based, in-service model to allow employed teachers to upgrade their skills during school holidays.
Senators supporting the petition called the circular illegal and demanded that Education officials appear before the Senate Education Committee next Tuesday to respond.
“CoG should have sought legal recourse immediately. The circular’s impact is dire, and it should not have been issued. The Senate must write to the PS to withdraw it,"Nominated Senator Catherine Mumma said.
The circular dated January 19, 2026, instructed the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) not to register candidates for assessment under the Diploma in Early Childhood Education (DECTE) or the Upgrading Diploma in Early Childhood Education (UDECTE) programme.
It also directed that the course be renamed the Diploma in Teacher Education Pre-Primary (DTE-PP & P).
INSTANT ANALYSIS
Education stakeholders warn that if allowed to stand, the merger could set back ECDE training in Kenya by years, compromise teaching quality, and limit children’s early learning outcomes. The debate now hinges on whether the Ministry will heed calls to reverse the directive or risk a prolonged clash with Parliament, county governments, and early childhood education professionals.
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