BEd. Early Childhood Development and Education Program Offered at Egerton University

Early childhood is the foundation stage for the development of human beings. Learning and developmental activities that take place during this stage have significant lifelong effect on the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual development of children. This stage, therefore, is important in the development of a healthy and well balanced adolescent and adult personality.
The design and implementation of the Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) degree programme in Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) at Egerton University is a response to the need to have appropriately trained Educators in Early Childhood in Kenya in particular and the East African region in general. The proposed programme will bridge the gap created by scarcity of highly trained manpower in ECDE. At the same time, the programme will also increase access to university Education in the country.
High demand for qualified ECDE personnel has been exacerbated by the ever changing socio-economic conditions in Kenya and the rest of East Africa. An increasing number of parents and guardians are pursuing life supporting activities and therefore spend less time with their children when such children require parental care and guidance. There is. therefore, a definite need to prepare ECDE personnel who can play the roles of Educators and surrogate parents.
Indeed, over 50 percent of pre-school teachers in Kenya are untrained. Consequently, the Government of Kenya lays a lot of emphasis on the training of ECDE personnel. Such manpower will play a pivotal role in meeting the Educational and developmental needs of children. This programme will provide prospective ECDE personnel with the requisite knowledge, values, skills, attitudes and competencies that will enable them to effectively carry out the roles.

The aim of Egerton University's B.Ed (ECDE) programme is to prepare the students into competent teachers of young children, accomplished trainers of teachers of ECDE, managers of ECDE institutions and programmes as well as officers of District Centres for Early Childhood Education (DICECE) and National Centre for Early Childhood Education (NACECE). Specifically, the programme will seek to attain the following objectives:

• To promote students* knowledge of holistic child development, including mental, capabilities, emotional and physical growth, spiritual, manipulation and self expression.
• To foster students' understanding, sensitivity and appreciation of culture and environment as they relate to child rights, care, health and nutrition.
• To enhance in the students teaching and learning skills that are appropriate to young children, such as play and child-centred activity-based methods.
• To be informed about latest issues affecting ECDE teacher Education, research and ethics.

The general Egerton University admission requirement of at least a KCSE certificate with a mean Grade of C+ shall apply.

In addition, applicants must have scored at least grade C in the following subjects:

• Either English or Kiswahili
• Any one subject from: Mathematics or Physics or Chemistry or Physical Science
• Any one subject from: History and Government. Geography. Religious Education or Social Education and Ethics.
• Either Biology or Biological Sciences

Alternatively, applicants shall be admitted into the programme provided they hold either:

• PI Teachers' Certificate and at least a KCSE Certificate with a mean Grade of C plain or KCE Division II or RACE I principal and 2 Subsidiary passes OR
• Diploma in Early Childhood Development Education from a recognized examining body. OR
• Certificate in ECDE teaching from a recognized examining body and at least a KCSE Certificate with a mean Grade of C plain or KCE Division II or KACE 1 principal and 2 subsidiary passes. OR
• KACE or its equivalent with at least 2 principal passes and 1 subsidiary pass.

Mininum Entry Requirements for Bachelor's Degree
The entry requirements set out below are only minimum, and they in no way entitle an applicant to a place in the University. Applicants must:

• Have the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education with an average grade C+ (C plus)passed at one sitting from at least seven subjects drawn from subject groupings as specified by the Kenya National Examinations Council or its equivalent.

OR

• Have one of the following combinations of passes in the Kenya Advanced Certificate of Education examination:
• Two (2) Principal passes obtained at the same sitting.

OR

• Egerton University Statutes 2008 43
• Two (2) Principal passes obtained at different sittings provided the passes are of Grade C or higher.

OR

• Hold a Diploma of Egerton University with a 'Credit' pass or higher or an equivalent
• Qualification from a recognized institution in the relevant field of specialization acceptable to Senate. Those with a 'Pass' Diploma will be considered if they have at least two years relevant experience after graduation.

AND
Meet additional entry requirements as may be specified by the respective Department, Faculty, School or Institute.

To be admitted for a PRE-SERVICE DEGREE PROGRAM, a prospective candidate must have all the requirements set up by the joint Admission Board (JAB), with a prospective IN-SERVICE student must have completed a diplomaprogram in the relevant field and graduated with at least a CREDIT.

To qualify for the award of degree of Bachelor of Early Childhood Development Education from Egerton University, a student must have passed a minimum of 152.5 Credit Factors (CFs).
The programme will take four academic years for all students, except ECDE Diploma holders.

Holders of ECDE Diplomas will benefit from credit Transfers of up to 30% of the courses in which case, they will take a shorter period but certainly not less than two and a half academic years.

Egerton University is the oldest institution of higher learning in Kenya. It was founded as a Farm School in 1939 by Lord Maurice Egerton of Tatton, a British national who settled in Kenya in the 1920s.

Egerton University has three (3) Campuses and one Campus College.

The main Campus is based at ... read more