Education CAS lauds ECDE progress in most counties

The Cabinet Administrative Secretary for Education Dr Sarah Ruto has hailed counties for the massive progress witnessed in implementing Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) programs.

The CAS noted that despite the challenges posed by lack of clear policies at the initial stages of ECDE programs, most counties have made commendable progress.

She highlighted unveiling of capitation funds, feeding programs and improved staffing as part of the major activities initiated by counties.

“There has been a lot of progress and we now need to identify where we can improve in our provision of services,” she said.

She noted that Nairobi counties has the most robust childcare program and the pioneer county in unveiling the capitation fund for ECDE centres.She singled out Kakamega for a good staffing program ,Mandera for sustaining its feeding program , Kajiado for having adequate ECDE centres and Mombasa for its digital literacy programs in all ECDE centres.

The CAS was speaking at City Hall Nairobi where she joined Nairobi Deputy Governor Ann Kananu in disbursement of Sh116 Million bursary funds targeting 25,000 beneficiaries.

***Nairobi County Education CAS Dr.Sarah Ruto when she visited Nairobi Deputy Governor Ann Kananu***

She emphasized the need to ensure all counties have improvised digital literacy programs for ECDE centres.

This,she said will prepare them early enough for the new competence based curriculum that started this year.

“Children need digital literacy but we must prepare them early enough to master their competency that will allow them to have skills for work and life,” she said.

***Dr Sarah Ruto was speaking at City Hall Nairobi where she joined Nairobi Deputy Governor Ann Kananu in disbursement of Sh116 Million bursary funds targeting 25,000 beneficiaries.***

She noted that the new curriculum will help much in averting the unemployment rate in the country.

“We should not just educate our children to work in Nairobi but we must prepare them to work even for East Africa and the rest of the world,”

She noted that and ECDE bill has already been prepared and it will help solve key challenges in the sector.

Nairobi Deputy Governor Ann Kananu promised that the county will build at least two more Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) centers in each of the 85 wards.

The county is targeting to have about 200,000 children enrolled in public ECDE centers and the process to build more will start next financial year.

“I promise to ensure that we bridge the gap by building more ECDE centers at ward level and we are going to achieve this by working closely with all the stakeholders,” Kananu said.

Nairobi has 205 ECDE centers located in public primary schools with 24 others as stand-alone facilities.