Vihiga: The County Government of Vihiga has invested Sh12 million in furniture and learning materials for Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centres across the county.
According to Kenya News Agency, the investment targets 200 ECDE centres in the six sub-counties, providing 8,000 chairs, 2,000 tables, and 900 curriculum designs. During the handover ceremony at the County Headquarters, Governor Dr Wilber Khasilwa Ottichilo stated that the initiative aims to create a conducive learning environment and strengthen early childhood education.
Ottichilo emphasized that the county government is also implementing a programme to construct additional integrated ECDE classrooms to address infrastructure needs. He stated, “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.”
The governor highlighted ongoing efforts to establish regulations for school feeding programmes in ECDE centres, noting the importance of proper nutrition in supporting children’s learning and development. These interventions are intended to complement other investments by the county government to improve access to quality early childhood education.
County Executive Committee Member for Education Anne Desma underscored early childhood education as the foundation for the county’s future growth, stressing the need for continued investment in the sector. Desma believes that the provision of furniture and learning materials will help address some of the challenges facing ECDE centres and create better conditions for learners and teachers.
Jackyline Onesia, an ECDE teacher, welcomed the initiative, noting that the new furniture would help resolve infrastructure challenges in centres that had admitted many learners but lacked adequate chairs and tables. Onesia expressed that the support would enhance service delivery and improve learning conditions for children.
The furniture and learning materials are expected to benefit ECDE learners countywide and complement other investments by the county government aimed at improving access to quality early childhood education.
