Nairobi Deputy Governor promises more ECDE centers to upturn enrollment

County targets at least two more ECDE centers in each of the 85 wards
Sh 116million bursary fund released for at least 25,000 beneficiaries
Kananu also put on notice land grabbers targeting public land meant for schools.

The County Government will build at least two more Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) centers in each of the 85 wards.

Nairobi Deputy Governor Ann Kananu on Tuesday said that the education sector will work closely with MCAs to work on modalities that will ensure this is achieved.

Kananu said this when she officially launched the disbursement of Sh116 million ECDE funds to 25,000 beneficiaries.

The county is targeting to have about 200,000 children enrolled to 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.

Nairobi Deputy Govenor Ann Kananu ( right)
is joined by Cabinet Adminstrative Secretary for education Dr. Sarah Ruto to unveil Sh116 as Bursary funds for over 25,000 ECDE pupils

“We have witnessed steady growth in enrolment, from a paltry 13,000 to over 25,000. The goal is to ultimately double the number of children enrolled in Public ECDE in Nairobi County from 25,073 to 50,000 by the 2022,” she added

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A total of 25,073 will receive Sh 80,233,600 worth of conditional grants. Amongst these numbers, each child will receive Sh 3, 200 while those with special needs will each receive Sh3,300

The disbursed funds will be handed to respective schools’ Board of Management to utilize according to the laid down guidelines.

Kananu said that identified scarcity of enough land as the biggest hindrance to the establishment of more ECDE centers. She said that the county will work closely with relevant ministries in the national government and MCAs to find ways of availing more land.

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

The county’s Education sector is also seeking to change the financing model of constructing ECDE Centres from Central procurement to decentralize at Board of Management level. This will help solve the procurement bureaucracies seen in the past.

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The Education Department has also issued new Vote Head guidelines which will be adopted by all the pre-Schools. These guidelines have laid emphasis on renovation of classrooms, toilets, repairs, fencing and general improvement of physical facilities.

Cabinet Administrative Secretary in the Ministry of Education Dr.Sarah Ruto who was aslo present emphasized the need to increase the capitation fund,improve staffing of ECDE centres and more focus on digital literacy programs at ECDE level.

Education Executive Janet Ouko warned ECDE managers against asking parents for money for the feeding program,noting that ECDE education in the county is free.

“We have to make sure that ECDE services and programs for Nairobi are free.You cat be asking Sh1000 for a feeding program.Let them carry food from home,” she said.

Ouko said that the county will also work on to scale terms and conditions for ECDE teachers in the county.