New study paints sorry state of Early Child Education

Baby class pupils take a nap at Xaverian ECD Public Primary School in Kisumu on August 28, 2018. Survey shows counties do not have enough land for expansion. [Denish Ochieng, Standard]

Early childhood centres still have crowded classrooms and teacher shortages despite the devolution of the service, according to a report.

The survey showed that reforms for early childhood development centres were being implemented too slowly, with counties yet to address the shortage of teachers.

The survey, to be presented at an international conference that will start in Nairobi tomorrow, shows that some pupils are going hungry due to poverty.

According to the report dubbed Accelerating Early Childhood Development through Partnerships dated July 2018, counties are facing challenges in expanding these centres due to inadequate space.

It also cited lack of commitment by leaders as an impediment.

“There are major gaps in coordination of this devolved ECD function with shortage of funds and teachers hindering the successful implementation of high-quality, affordable (early childhood) programmes across the country,” the report says.

County governors' spouses are among the 500 Government and policy makers from Africa expected to attend the conference.

Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed recently said each primary school would establish an ECD centre to provide enough places for learners.

According to the report, the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) was keen on ensuring that different levels of disability were considered.

“Since the moral fabric of society could not be attained purely by a curriculum, parental engagement (in child development) is a key component in the competence-based curriculum,” the report says.

The report cites training of caregivers as an essential component of a child’s brain development. Learners considered under the new KICD curriculum are aged four years and above, meaning that those under the age of four belonged to daycare centres or at home, according to the survey.

The conference will discuss the challenges of safety and protection of children.

Other topics will include health issues and services that support the needs of children from conception to age eight and the physical and mental health of their caregivers.

Development, delivery and access to adequate nutritional services for children from conception to age eight in Africa will also be discussed.

“Particular interests include children below three years of age and the integration of traditional systems, tools and resources,” the report says.