The Education Cabinet Secretary (CS), Prof. George Magoha has urged County governments to improve the Early Childhood Development (ECD) learning to boost education sector.
Prof. Magoha explained that this move will ensure the success of the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) that supports early childhood development through growth of skills at an early age as the formative stage is critical in ensuring the education of a child is successful.
Speaking on Friday during the National and County government consultative meeting on curriculum reforms, Magoha said that the Council of Governors (CoG) had a task to engage ECD teachers to ensure that children gain the right skills at the formative stage.
“The Council of Governors Education Committee should come up with a framework of engagement with teachers and set their teaching and training standards,” Magoha said.
The CS further challenged the County Executive Committee (CEC) members to go to primary schools and identify schools that need assistance especially those in the informal settlements.
“CECs should go on the ground and identify schools in the slums and those studying in poor infrastructure so that we can help them as the government want to uplift the child in the gutter,” he noted.
Prof. Magoha said the government is willing to work with the counties to improve the education sector at the County level and asked education stakeholders to avoid propaganda.
“We are committed and ready to engage with education stakeholders at County level in a proper manner and not through political talks and noises,” Magoha said.
The State Department of Education Principal Secretary (PS), Dr. Belio Kipsang echoed Prof. Magoha, saying that proper ECD learning will guarantee a better future for children.
“Early learning ensures we have a proper linkage between all of us in ensuring that we adequately prepared the child for the future,” Dr. Kipsang said.
He also added that the ministry has adequately facilitated Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) to be able to implement the new curriculum in a proper manner.
The Council of Governors Education Committee Chairperson, Mutahi Kahiga said in his speech that the National and County governments bear the responsibility to ensure that learners in the country obtain the right to quality based education.
“We have to put efforts to ensure quality education towards the achievement of the sustainable developed goals, Kenya Vision 2030 and the Big Four Agenda,” Kahiga said in a speech read by Prof. Katana.
Kahiga further added that the Constitution of Kenya mandates the County governments with the management, co-ordination and resourcing of educational institutions thus driving the need to enhance the capacity of the sector stakeholders in addressing challenges in the Education system.
The USAID Kenya and East Africa Deputy Director, Jaime Oberlander ascertained that the US government is committed in partnering with the Kenyan government in bettering the lives of Kenyans and sets Sh1 billion yearly for investment in Kenya.
“The US government will continue to improve education development in Kenya by increasing access to education, promoting sponsorships and providing equipment through funding,” she assured.
Competency Based Curriculum is designed to emphasize the significance of developing skills and knowledge in students and also applying those competencies to real life situations.
By Angelina Mutindi/ Ian Munjuga
