The County Government of Vihiga has invested Sh12 million in furniture and learning materials for Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centres across the county.
The investment, targeting 200 ECDE centres in the six sub-counties, includes 8,000 chairs, 2,000 tables and 900 curriculum designs.
Speaking during the handover ceremony at the County Headquarters, Governor Dr Wilber Khasilwa Ottichilo said the initiative was part of the county government’s efforts to create a conducive learning environment and strengthen early childhood education.
Ottichilo said the county government was also implementing a programme to construct additional fully integrated ECDE classrooms to address infrastructure needs in the centres.
“We are investing in ECDE because this is where the foundation of education begins. We want our children to learn in a safe and conducive environment,” he said.
The governor said the county was also working on regulations to guide school feeding programmes in ECDE centres, noting that proper nutrition was important in supporting children’s learning and development.
He said the interventions would complement other investments by the county government aimed at improving access to quality early childhood education.
The furniture and learning materials are expected to benefit ECDE learners across the county and improve teaching and learning conditions in the centres.
County Executive Committee Member for Education Anne Desma said early childhood education remained the foundation for the county’s future growth, stressing the need for continued investment in the sector.
Desma said the provision of furniture and learning materials would help address some of the challenges facing ECDE centres and create better conditions for both learners and teachers.
One of the ECDE teachers, Jackyline Onesia, welcomed the initiative, saying the new furniture would help address infrastructure challenges in centres that had admitted many learners but lacked adequate chairs and tables.
Onesia said the support would enhance service delivery and improve learning conditions for children.
The furniture and learning materials are expected to benefit ECDE learners across the county and complement other investments by the county government aimed at improving access to quality early childhood education.
By Victor Zedy and Rose Wasike
