Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) learners in Kiambu County are taking part in ward-level table tennis competitions as the county seeks to identify and nurture sporting abilities among children at an early age.
One of the centers hosting the competitions is Chiboni ECDE Model in Nyanduma Ward, Lari Sub-County, where young learners are getting an opportunity to compete while developing confidence, discipline, concentration and teamwork.
The competitions are being conducted by the County Government of Kiambu through the Department of Education, Gender, Culture and Social Services as part of efforts to promote holistic development among children.
The programme gives learners an opportunity to participate in co-curricular activities alongside their classroom work while allowing teachers to identify abilities that can be nurtured as the children progress through the education system.
Kiambu County has supported ECDE learners to take part in various co-curricular activities, including sports, music and drama. The activities are intended to complement classroom learning by giving children opportunities to develop physical, social and creative skills.
Governor Kimani Wamatangi said his administration was committed to creating opportunities for children to discover and develop their abilities from an early age.
“These young minds are brimming with talent; all they need is a little push, and my administration is here to be that launching pad,” said Wamatangi.
He said the county would continue supporting co-curricular activities as part of efforts to give children opportunities to develop their abilities beyond academic work.
The ward-level competitions have also provided an opportunity for learners from different ECDE centres to interact and compete at the grassroots level.
Through table tennis, the children are exposed to skills such as concentration, coordination, discipline and teamwork while learning to compete within set rules.
The county has also invested in improving ECDE infrastructure, including the construction of model centres, as part of efforts to provide better learning environments for young children.
The sporting activities complement these interventions by giving learners opportunities to develop other abilities outside the classroom.
The ward competitions are expected to help identify children with potential in table tennis and provide them with opportunities to develop their skills as they advance through the education system.
The initiative is part of the county’s wider approach to early childhood development, which seeks to support children’s academic, physical and social growth during their formative years.
by Winjoy Makena and Grace Naishoo
