CS Machogu has announced some changes to be implemented in ECDE
The national government is plotting to replace devolved units in charge of Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE).
Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu revealed that elementary school head teachers will take charge of the ECDE learning centers beginning in January 2024, sparking a new education dispute.
The Council of Governors, however, disagreed with the plan in a letter dated December 28, 2023, in which CoG Chairperson Anne Waiguru explains that no agreement has been reached between the federal and local governments to transfer ECDE management.
She said that county governments are in charge of ECDEs and that there hasn’t been a legal provision to change the current setup.
“We are aware of the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms’ (PWPER) recommendation. But the implementation of the same should be carried out strictly in compliance with Article 187 of the Constitution, which establishes the guidelines for the division of authorities and responsibilities between the two tiers of government,” the letter stated in part.
Concurrently, Kajiado County Governor Joseph ole Lenku has ratified eight Acts, one of which is the Kajiado County Early Childhood Education Act (2024), which establishes the parameters for the county’s operations across many domains to improve efficiency and service provision.
CS Machogu has announced some changes to be implemented in ECDE
Early childhood education and care centers, home-based education and care services, and hospital-based education and care services are all set to be established and regulated under the ECD Act, 2024.
The Act requires the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) to designate early childhood and child care institutions within the county and, after consulting with relevant parties, to develop a curriculum framework for early childhood services that are licensed.
Teachers and other employees at early childhood education centers are similarly shielded by the Act from deliberate insults, mistreatment, and intimidation. Those found guilty face a maximum fine of Ksh50,000.
The Kajiado County Vocational Training Centers Act (2024), another bill that was enacted into law, calls for the creation of Vocational Training Centers (VTCs) within the county.
The Act aims to create quality assessments and provide a framework for managing and assessing a VTC’s activities.
CS Machogu has announced some changes to be implemented in ECDE
