The School of Education is one of the two original Schools of the Zambian Open University (ZAOU) that started as soon as the University opened its doors to students in 2005. The other pioneer school was the School of Law and Social Sciences.
The School of Education started with three programmes namely Bachelor of Education in Adult Education, Bachelor of Education in Primary Education and Bachelor of Education in Secondary Education. Later the School developed three other programmes: Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood Education, Bachelor of Education in Guidance and Counselling and Bachelor of Education in Special Education. In 2012, the University decided to abolish the School of Media, Performing and Fine Arts. As a result, Fine Arts was absorbed into the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, while Theatre Arts was incorporated in the School of Education, thus giving seven programmes to the School of Education, making it the biggest School in the University.