Court stops MoE from scrapping ECDE Diploma training, admissions

The High Court has this evening issued order stopping the Ministry of Education from implementing the recent directive of scrapping the diploma in Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) training and admissions after Kenya Union of Pre-Primary Education Teachers (KUNOPPET) Secretary General Samuel Opiyo moved to court under certificate of urgency to challenge the directive.

Justice Lawrence N. Mugambi has now ordered that the recent circular that was issued by the MoE be suspended temporarily with the case expected to be mention on March 3, 2026 for further directives.

“I have read the Application filed under Certificate of Urgency dated February 6, 2026 and Supporting Affidavit sworn by Samuel A. Opiyo of even date. I direct as follows: THAT an interim conservatory order temporarily suspending the Ministry of Education circular REF;QAS/ECDE/7/1B/2/193, dated January 19, 2026 is hereby issued. This order shall remain valid until the next mention date or until further orders of this court, whichever comes first,” read the court order dated February 9, 2026.

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The Ministry of Education (MoE) officially terminated the Diploma in Early Childhood Teacher Education (DECTE), following a directive from the State Department for Basic Education, and ordered the immediate suspension of admissions into the programme.

In the Circular, the Basic Education Principal Secretary Prof. Julius Bitok had announced that the Diploma in Early Childhood Teacher Education (DECTE) had been merged with the Diploma in Primary Teacher Education (DPTE) to create a new consolidated course, the Diploma in Teacher Education, Pre-Primary and Primary (DTE PP & P).

According to the MoE directive, both the standalone DECTE and Upgrade Diploma in Early Childhood Teacher Education (UDECTE) were also discontinued, with Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) being instructed not to register any candidates for assessment under the two diplomas.

The Ministry also stressed that the directive takes effect immediately, and all relevant offices being instructed to ensure strict compliance.

“This circular, therefore, directs that NO admission shall be undertaken for the DECTE programme and NO registration or approval of colleges shall be processed to offer DECTE or UDECTE programme,” the circular read.

This comes after the Senators called for the stoppage of the implementation of the controversial policy after the outcry of the stakeholders.

By Roy Hezron