Master of Education Degree in Early Childhood Development

The Master of Education Degree in Early Childhood Development aims to equip students with specialised theoretical knowledge, practical skills and competencies for effective Early Childhood learning. The programme focuses on linking research on the growth, development and education of young children with practice in current Early Childhood Development programmes. It also supports understanding of culture and environment as they relate to child rights, care, health and nutrition, and develops knowledge in assessment and diagnosis, psychological testing, psychotherapy and research issues in clinical child psychology.

The programme takes one year and six months to complete and includes eight courses plus a dissertation. The eight courses are taught in one year, and the dissertation (equal to two courses) is taken in six months. To proceed to register for the dissertation, a student must pass both advanced qualitative and quantitative research methods. Examinations are normally held at the end of each Semester, and admission requires registration and satisfactory completion of study, including 80% lecture attendance and submission of written assignments.

Subject to provisions of the General Academic Regulations for Masters degree programmes and Faculty General Academic Regulations for admission, the following entry requirements shall apply:

• A Bachelor of Education degree in Early Childhood Development or any other relevant field from a recognised University with a minimum of lower second-degree classification or GPA of 5; and
• At least a minimum of two years of experience in Early Childhood Development work.

• Primary schools – teaching and administration.
• Teacher education
• Counselling
• Special needs education
• University lecturing