Governors push for withdrawal of ECDE–primary teacher training merger

Council of Governors Education Committee chairperson and Kericho Governor Erick Mutai during the Senate’s Assessment and Planning Retreat in Naivasha on February 27 

Governors have urged the Ministry of Education to rescind a circular that merges the training of Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) teachers with that of primary school teachers.

Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok issued the directive on January 19, consolidating the Diploma in Early Childhood Teacher Education (DECTE) and the Diploma in Primary Teacher Education (DPTE) into a single qualification — the Diploma in Teacher Education Pre-Primary and Primary (DTE PP&P).

The policy shift, intended to harmonise teacher training within basic education, immediately sparked resistance.

Concerns over job security, loss of specialisation and the encroachment on devolved functions prompted legal action, leading the High Court to temporarily suspend the circular.

Speaking during the Senate’s Assessment and Planning Retreat in Naivasha, Council of Governors Education Committee chairperson and Kericho Governor Erick Mutai said counties reject the scrapping of the stand-alone ECDE diploma programme.

"I wish to indicate right here Mr PS that we are in total disagreement with that policy because the curriculum of ECDE training is specialised and is meant globally to train these teachers as caregivers and that's why when you look at various pedagogical skills on what they are being trained is completely different from what the other level is doing," Mutai said.

He said the Council of Governors had formally written to the PS seeking a recall of the circular to pave the way for consultations.

"So, it's out of a lot of respect that we have written to you as CoG and requested you that you recall the circular that you provided to allow for proper consultation on the same because we believe that if we merge this and train teachers in a similar way then the child at that level will be denied access to quality caregivers meant for that level."

Mutai also questioned the circular's withdrawal of government funding for students pursuing Bachelor’s degrees in ECDE at universities, noting that some learners are already enrolled in the programme.

The high-level retreat focused on accelerating pending legislation, strengthening county oversight and shaping a legacy agenda ahead of the final phase of the 13th Parliament.

Held under the theme “Advancing the Senate’s Agenda: Review, Strategy, and Sustainable Progress,” it brought together senators, parliamentary leadership, cabinet secretaries and key stakeholders in devolution, health, agriculture, education and climate governance.

Education governance — particularly the division of responsibilities between national and county governments — featured prominently, with attention on ECDE management and preparation for a technology-driven economy.

On February 3, senators criticised the proposed merger, warning that it threatens devolution and could destabilise early learning in counties.

The Senate Education Committee said the directive contravenes constitutional boundaries by shifting control of ECDE teacher training to the national government, despite the function being devolved.

Committee chairperson Betty Montet cautioned that reforms affecting ECDE must involve counties and the public.

“This is not a minor administrative adjustment. It has real consequences for counties, training institutions and learners,” Montet said.

Senators also questioned the fate of students and colleges currently operating under existing ECDE guidelines, stressing that early learning demands specialised training.

They warned that the merger risks weakening the foundation of the Competency-Based Education (CBE) framework.

University lecturers and education stakeholders have also opposed the circular, which followed recommendations by the Presidential Working Party on Education Reform (PWPER).

They argued that parents and students enrolled in ECDE diploma colleges have been left in uncertainty.

"We have a membership of 500 colleges training ECDE teachers, we have students who we are graduating in August and the circular discontinues them on 19th January. What are you talking about? What do we tell these students?" Kenya Early Childhood Education Private Training Institutions Association (KECEPTIA) chairperson Njuguna Wangunyu said.

The lecturers said any reforms to ECDE teacher training should be gradual and implemented over no less than five years.

They emphasised that pedagogical approaches at ECDE level differ significantly from those used in primary education and warned that the directive risks reversing gains made in improving the quality of basic education.

On February 9, the High Court issued a temporary suspension of the circular pending further directions.

The conservatory order by Justice Lawrence Mugambi followed a petition filed by the Kenya Union of Pre-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet).

The union argued that the policy is unconstitutional and harmful to ECDE teachers and trainees, contending that it eliminates specialisation in a field that requires focused training to meet the needs of pre-primary learners.

It further stated that merging ECDE with primary education would dilute professional standards, disrupt the Competency-Based Education (CBE) framework and adversely affect foundational learning.

Kuppet maintained that ECDE is a specialised, play-based and care-oriented discipline requiring distinct preparation.

It also warned that the merger could create employment and governance disparities, as ECDE teachers are currently managed by county governments while primary school teachers fall under the national government.

In granting interim relief, the court ruled: “An interim conservatory order temporarily suspending the Ministry of Education circular REF: QAS/ECDE/7/1B/2/193, dated 19th January 2026, is hereby issued. This order shall remain valid until the next mention date or until further orders of this court, whichever comes first,” Justice Mugambi ruled.

The case is scheduled for mention on March 3, 2026, for brief oral pleadings and further directions.