First Lady launches feeding program for ECDE centres

**A child's early years provide a strong base for lifelong learning.** [iStockphoto]

Trans Nzoia First Lady Lilian Natembeya has launched a school feeding programme to help boost enrolment and retention in Early Childhood Development Education centres in the region.

Mrs Natembeya said the county administration had embarked on a campaign to enhance delivery of ECDE programmes and will employ more teachers and refurbish established centres.

The First Lady regretted that education standards in some parts of the county had been dwindling due to lack of access to basic ECDE.

"ECDE stage is critical in child development and the incentives aims at increasing enrollment and retention of the learners," said Mrs Natembeya at Kesse Primary school in Kwanza Sub-County.

She indicated that the feeding programme intends to ensure pupils get nutritious meals, clean water, child-friendly toilets and hand washing facilities, a move she said will guarantee comfort and retention of all pupils in ECDEs across the county.

She underscored the need for development partners and stakeholders in Education to partner in order to discuss areas of collaboration to be integrated into the implementation of projects as the County prepares to implement its 100 days Rapid Results Initiative Strategic Plan and the 5-year County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP 2023-2027).

"Early childhood education is a crucial stage of human development and we are seeking to give it the attention it deserves," said Ms. Natembeya.

The County First Lady said early childhood education forms an integral part in providing a solid foundation for children in their onset years of education, saying the feeding programme will motivate parents to send their children to school.

As part of the campaign, Mrs Natembeya added that the county government had already employed more than 700 teachers on permanent and pensionable terms, in a bid to put the institutions to good use. Initially, parents had been shouldering the burden of paying ECDE teachers who were employed on contract.

Area MCA Kennedy Mugush hailed the efforts of Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya for the concerted efforts that has so far seen the absorption of ECDE teachers.