Diploma in Early Childhood Teacher Education (DECTE)

Diploma in Early Childhood Teacher Education (DECTE) seeks to develop the teacher to act as a facilitator in the learning process into consideration the different abilities and learning styles of individual learners.

DECTE curriculum has been designed with an emphasis on experiential and reflective learning to develop appropriate pedagogical content knowledge; hence the emphasis on integrated content and pedagogy for the student teachers while at college. This is to ensure that the teacher trainee is given adequate time to practice how to facilitate his/her pupils’ learning of the different strands prescribed in the curriculum designs.

This course is designed to train Early Childhood Education human resource development. The course will provide knowledge, sills, values and attitude sufficient for professional growth. This will enable those trained to contribute towards the child's holistic development as they prepare to go to primary schools.

Skills you will acquire;

• Classroom management
• ICT integration in Education
• Educational Resource development
• Competency based assessment
• Activity based learning strategies
• Competency in handling all learning areas at the following levels Play group, PP1, PP2 and Grades 1 to 3
• Explain the multiple influences on early development and learning.
• Use their knowledge of child development to create healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging learning environments.
• Develop and implement strategies to support and engage families and communities through respectful, reciprocal relationships.
• Reflect on their own practice to promote positive outcomes for each child.
• Engage in continuous, collaborative learning to inform practice.
• Acquire and apply knowledge, skills and attitudes to develop relevant DECTE programmes
• Create activities that foster positive social interaction
• Acquire, adapt and apply technology in teaching and learning activities
• Identify and develop materials using locally available resources
• Enrich the child’s experience to enable him/her to cope better with primary school life
• Acquire knowledge and skills to enable the child to enjoy learning through play
• Developing learning experiences for early grade learners

Career opportunities

• Teaching in ECDE centres and primary schools grade 1 to grade 3
• Writing of course books
• Development of Educational resources
• Grading assessments at grade 1 to 3
• School managers
• School proprietors
• Child Support and Family Services
• Early Intervention, Special Needs Education
• Curriculum Development
• Play Therapy
• Teacher Education

Is Diploma in Early Childhood Teacher Education payable

Instructional specialists have some of the highest paying jobs in early childhood education. These professionals are responsible for developing educational programs and curriculum for preschools and childcare centers

Is Early childhood in demand?

The good news is that the demand for early childhood educators is expected to grow in the coming years. In fact, teacher training analyses predicts that there will be an 18 percent increase in preschool teacher jobs over the next ten years, which is significantly more than upper primary and high school teaching jobs.