Sneators have raised serious concerns over a Ministry of Education proposal to merge Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) teacher training with primary teacher education, warning that the plan could disrupt early learning and interfere with county-managed education services.
The issues were highlighted during a session at Bunge Towers on Tuesday, where the Senate Standing Committee on Education met with education experts and Council of Governors representatives to review the implications of a circular issued by the Principal Secretary for Basic Education.
Committee members said the directive, which proposes combining ECDE and primary teacher training into a single programme, raises constitutional, policy, and practical questions. This is particularly sensitive because ECDE is a devolved function managed by county governments.
Senator Betty Montet, chair of the committee, said the matter goes beyond a routine administrative change. She insisted that any adjustments affecting ECDE must involve public consultation and thorough discussions with counties and other stakeholders.“This is not a minor administrative adjustment. It has real consequences for counties, training institutions and learners,” Montet said, emphasizing the Senate’s role in safeguarding devolution and the education system.
Nominated Senator Catherine Mumma said that implementing the merger through a circular raises constitutional challenges. She stressed the importance of consulting the public and stakeholders before any policy changes are enforced.
Machakos Senator Kavindu Muthama expressed concern about the sudden release of the directive, which he said has created uncertainty for students currently enrolled in ECDE programmes and for institutions that admitted trainees under the existing system. He warned that abrupt changes in early education could have long-lasting consequences.
Senator Seki Lenku Ole Kanar from Kajiado County noted that Early Childhood Education is a specialised area with unique training requirements. He cautioned that merging ECDE with primary teacher education could lower professional standards and weaken the foundation of the Competency-Based Curriculum.
Laikipia Senator John Kinyua urged a careful review of the circular’s effects on counties, particularly in areas of workforce planning and service delivery.
“Decisions affecting devolved functions must be informed by data, evidence and expert advice,” he said.
Kericho Governor Eric Kipkoech Mutai, chair of the CoG Education Committee, said counties were not consulted before the circular was issued. He warned that merging the two training programmes could disrupt county education systems, increase financial pressures, and reverse progress made in early learning since devolution.
Representatives from universities and teacher training institutions told the committee that Early Childhood Education is play-based, care-focused, and research-led, requiring specialised preparation. They warned that collapsing ECDE training into primary teacher education could blur academic and professional pathways from certificate to doctoral levels.
Central to the debate is the Ministry of Education’s proposal to merge the Diploma in Early Childhood Teacher Education (DECTE) and the Diploma in Primary Teacher Education (DPTE) into one qualification, the Diploma in Teacher Education, Pre-Primary and Primary (DTE PP & P).
Senators cautioned that issuing the change through an administrative circular risks returning control of ECDE teacher training to the national government, contrary to constitutional provisions.
The Senate Education Committee said it will gather input from the discussions and formally consult the Ministry of Education, with several lawmakers indicating the circular may need to be withdrawn or suspended until comprehensive consultations take place.
