Huge number of children in Kericho yet to be enrolled in ECDE

Joseph Cherorot (L) hands over cooking oil to Bethel Children’s Home director Rev. Paul Matingwony.

At least 100,000 children in Kericho have not been enrolled for Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE), according to county records.

Governor Paul Chepkwony has said despite his administration's effort to put in place ECDE structures, some parents have not enrolled their children.

This year, according to Prof Chepkwony, the county recruited 126 ECDE teachers, bringing the total number in public ECDE centres to 1,074.

Chepkwony said his administrations was committed to improving the quality of ECDE, but the parents were not showing the same commitment.

Human Development

“Early Childhood Education is a crucial stage of human development to which my Government has given the attention it deserves. It is, however, unfortunate that some parents have not been taking their children to ECDE classes,” said Chepkwony.

The governor urged parents of children of school-going age to enroll them at the centres.

Bursary distribution

Meanwhile, speaking at Bethel Children’s Home in Londiani, Joseph Cherorot, a philanthropist, made a case for needy children to be given priority when county bursaries are given.

The bursaries are usually dispensed from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

“It is unfortunate that we have had cases where needy but bright students have been overlooked in the distribution of bursary funds," said Mr Cherorot.

"We are, therefore, asking the offices concerned with CDF to consider pupils in children's homes first," he added.

The children’s home, which has been in existence for the last 34 years, has 37 school-going children.