Kilifi County builds Sh50m resource centre to train ECD teachers

The ECD traning nd resource centre in Fumbini, Kilifi County. [PHOTO: JECKONIA OTIENO/ STANDARD]

KILIFI: Counties have rolled out plans to improve early childhood education after the function was devolved.

Kilifi County has completed the first phase of its first ever early childhood development training and resource centre. The county government has also constructed more than 100 new early childhood development centres.

The centre which is located at Fumbini a few kilometres from the town has been constructed at a cost of Sh50 million. It is expected to accommodate 300 teachers at any given time.

The construction work began during the 2013/2014 financial year and is part of Governor Amason Kingi’s strategy to improve education standards in the county.

The resource centre is expected to ease financial burden on the county which has been hiring classes at Kilifi Township Secondary School during holidays to train teachers.

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James Angore, the county director of pre-primary education says, “For a long time ECD teachers have been trained on hired premises and this centre will change the way training is done.”

First, training will be conducted throughout the year unlike in the past when it was only done after schools closed. Angore says the centre will offer certificate and diploma programmes.
“It will also act as a resource centre for teachers and other professionals in Kilifi,” says Angore.

The facility will also be used as a conference centre for organisations from Kilifi and beyond. ECD teachers training in the county was introduced in 1985.
The centre stands on a six acre piece of land, which hosts  Fumbini education zone that has Fumbini nursery, primary and secondary schools.

One hostel has been completed and two more are set to be constructed. Six classrooms and a modern administration block have also constructed. A septic tank will be used for waste disposal.

Angore says, “The second phase will involve equipping the facility, constructing a fence and installing the kitchen before it becomes fully operational.”

The Fumbini centre is expected to draw its clientele from the wider coast region with the devolution of early childhood education that has seen massive development of ECD centres around the county.

A model ECD centre caters for 174 learners. It was constructed at a cost of Sh10 million. It has three classrooms and a lavatory block. Chai Menza, the head teacher of Fumbini Primary which has hosted the ECD centre says that the new block has created more space for children unlike in the past when they sat in an old, tiny classroom.

Each of the 35 wards in Kilifi County is expected to have a model ECD centre.

Menza says, “We have also received 108 chairs and 18 tables for the learners while each of the three teachers has a table.”

Over 700 ECD teachers have been employed across the county and Angore says 500 more are to be recruited this financial year.