About Us
The Department of Educational Foundations is one of the oldest within the school. This historical advantage has enabled us evolve and develop some of the best staff within the School. Accordingly, the Department is endowed with most of those educational scholars whose ideas influence and shape the future of education in Kenya. And as the name implies, the Department offers foundational courses that provide learners with requisite knowledge to undertake and understand content in other disciplines. It is no wonder therefore that the Department is often referred to as the "mother" of other Departments within the School of Education.

Mission

Our mission is to provide quality education and training which promotes skills, attitudes and values that enhance a sense of discipline, self-examination, self-reliance and responsible thinking and living.

Goal
The Goal of the Department of Educational Foundations is to enhance the critical appreciation of educational issues in the fast globalizing society, Produce professionals [teachers, educators and researchers] capable of utilizing their knowledge for the service of society and to offer consultancy services in research and development in Educational and social matters in the University.

The Department has contributed considerably to the development of human resource for the education sector in Kenya. Since 1978, it has guided, supervised and graduated many students, starting with a student population of 200 in 1972 when the Bachelor of education program was started to the present times when student enrolment has grown tremendously. Currently, the department has highly qualified, experienced and internationally acclaimed members of teaching staff. The vision of the Department of Educational Foundations is to be a centre of academic professionals and Educational researchers distinguished by diligent inquiry, critical reflection, dynamism and innovation in education. Books published by our faculty members continue to serve as basic reading material for education students across the universities. Due to the highly qualified staff, the Department remains the prime provider in post graduate studies with many of our graduates now serving in sister universities in the country as well as positions of responsibility in education sector nationally.

The Department offers to all undergraduate students the following 4 academic programmes regardless of their mode of study [Joint Admissions Board, DSVOL or school based programmes] on mandatory basis:

• • History of Education,
  • Philosophy of Education,
  • Sociology of Education and policy Studies
  • Comparative Education and international Studies.

The ideal situation is for students to pursue these courses in the chronology above, each unit in one academic year. At this level, we seek to provide theoretical and practical skills for educational practice and human resource development. This knowledge and skills are therefore provided through various channels such as formal lectures, readings, seminars and tutorial discussions which enable a closer faculty-student relationship and mentoring. The mode of assessment comprises both practical presentations in tutorial discussions followed by submission of academic term papers, written Continuous Assessment Tests and end of semester examinations. 

The Department currently also offers Masters and Ph.D. programmes in these 4 areas and further, in new academic programmes that have been introduced that focus on the post-graduate level only. These are: Health Education, Higher Education and Social Science Research. For each of these courses, the credit hours are 35 while the mode of study is such that; for undergraduate courses, there is coursework and examination while for postgraduate courses there is coursework, examination and thesis/project.

• Prof.C.C.Wolhuter

The department has in the past hosted visiting scholars some of whom are on their Sabbatical leave and/or research. Accordingly, the department welcomes scholars and development partners locally and internationally to join hands with us to pursue our vision and mission.

Research Activities 
The Department is home to diverse research in education and contemporary themes. Some of the themes our postgraduate students are engaged in include:

Affiliated Programmes, Collaborations and Resources

The Departments has active links with the following:

• Center for the Study of International Cooperation in Education (CICE) of Hiroshima University. CICE incorporates other universities in Africa such as Makerere, Pretoria, University of Niger, Malawi, as well as Thailand and India.
• Department for International Development (DFID a UK Governmental Agency) funded research consortium hosted by Cambridge University involving more than 5 universities from Africa, Asia and Europe.
• Danish University of Education.
• Steno Diabetes Center Denmark

CONTACTS:
For further information regarding our services please contact the Chairman, Department of Educational Foundations:

Postal Address:
Kenyatta University,
P.O. Box 43844-00100,
Nairobi, Kenya.

Telephone: +254- 871090 or 871622 Extensions 57495 or 3785 or 3786

E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.