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County embarks on digital learning for ECDE learners

Elgeyo Marakwet county is in the process of expanding its digital learning programme among Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) learners following the success of a piloting programme which started last year.

The County Director for Education and Technical Training Paul Tenoi said the programme which started last year targeting 17 ECDE learning centres in Kapchemutwa and Cherangani Chebororwa wards with 1080 learners is now set to expand to 264 centres with 20,000 learners.

Addressing the press in Iten, the Director said the 264 were half the number of ECDE centres in the county saying they expected to have 23 learners share one gadget.

The Director divulged that the first phase of the programme was being implemented by Education Impact through Digital learning (EIDU) organization but said the county would have to shoulder part of the budget for the implementation of the second phase.

“I am therefore calling on residents to ensure they allocate resources for digital literacy in the ongoing public participation of the budget making process,” he said.

Tenoi however said even as the county planned on expansion, there was need for the National Government to ensure that the whole county has mobile phone network coverage saying some parts of the county do not have network thus hindering the success of the programme.

“The lack of network in some parts of the county means that some of the learners will be left out from being exposed to the digital literacy which may affect them as the world goes digital,” he said.

He added that parts of the county were yet to access electricity yet the electronic gadgets required to be charged daily.

 Several ECDE teachers interviewed in the pilot centres said the introduction of digital learning had seen an increment in enrolment and reduced absenteeism as many learners come early to school eager to use the gadget.

Charity Yagan from Iten ECDE centre said monitoring and supervision of teachers had improved thus reducing absenteeism as they have to record and forward to their supervisors the work and activities undertaken each day.

Viola Kipchumba also from Iten said the programme has also made their work easier as the lesson plan and daily learners activities were already installed adding that learners enjoyed learning as there ass no pressure.

Phylis Towett from Komotony ECDE centre said the centre has a population of 130 learners calling on the county to increase the classes, teachers and other facilities like toilets for the learners even as it considers the expansion.

By Alice Wanjiru and Joan Jelimo

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