This is a newly established department in the School of Education that offers programmes, capacity building courses and conducts research in early childhood and basic education to contribute to the body of knowledge in the two related fields. The department provides an opportunity for students and practitioners to develop an in-depth understanding of issues affecting pre-primary and basic education in Malawi necessary for the provision of quality education.

The department engages in responsive community engagement projects that contribute towards the development of not only the students but also the field of early childhood and primary education in general.  Students are involved in course work, field attachment and action research offered through a combination of face-to-face mode and online instruction. Students are thus prepared to teach and manage classes at pre-school and primary school levels through the provision of disciplinary knowledge, educational theory and methodology. Staff in the department also support and supervise students at Master’s and PhD levels in early childhood and basic education research. Finally, the department engages in collaborative partnerships with other institutions of higher education and early childhood development organizations nationally and internationally in order to ensure both national and international relevance to the emerging issues and developments in early years’ education.