950 ECDE teachers get training in quality assurance and uniformity

The county government has just concluded a three-day in-service training for 950 Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) teachers.

Organisers say the programme held in Kisii town aimed at improving the quality of early childhood education and bringing uniformity to all ECDE centres in the county.

Kisii County Chief Officer in charge of Education, Labour and Manpower David Ogega said the programme touches on health matters which adversely affect learners at early stages of education.

"The ECDE programme officers are responsible for all activities and resources related to ECDE at sub-county level. The provision of ECDE services involve households, community and government efforts in the holistic development of children between zero and five years," said Mr Ogega at the close of the training.

Poor pay

Ogega said access, equity and quality of education services in this sub-sector are constrained by factors such as inadequate trained teachers and care givers, inadequate number of ECD centres, limited availability of teaching and learning materials, low morale of teaching staff due to poor remuneration, poor enforcement of ECD standards and inadequate health support services.

In the 2013/14 fiscal year, the Kisii County government set aside Sh67 million for the construction of Early Childhood Education (ECD) centres in each of the 45 wards in the county.

The county has a total of 694 ECD centres and has employed ECDE assistant directors for the programme.