Ondoa Mabati initiative in Mombasa enhances ECDE enrolment, retention

The new Majaoni ECDE centre under construction / BRIAN OTIENO

The new Majaoni ECDE centre under construction / BRIAN OTIENO

The new Majaoni ECDE centre under construction / BRIAN OTIENO

The new Majaoni ECDE centre under construction / BRIAN OTIENO

The new Majaoni ECDE centre under construction / BRIAN OTIENO

Mombasa county’s Ondoa Mabati Initiative is overseeing a remarkable transformation in the county, with the iron-sheet ECDE Centers giving way to modern buildings to boost education.

As part of efforts to improve learning environments, the county is constructing new ECDE centres to replace the makeshift iron-sheet structures with permanent, child-friendly facilities that make learning more fun and easy.

The flagship project at Majaoni in Bamburi ward, Kisauni constituency, has already seen an excited society stream into the unfinished project seeking chances for their children.

The construction of new permanent buildings for the Majaoni ECDE centre is at 80 per cent completion but already, more than 200 enquiries have been made.

The Majaoni ECDE centre is one of 16 ECDE centres that are being constructed, refurbished and modernized across various subcounties.

A total of 64 classrooms are being constructed.

In addition to the 16 centers, there are ongoing efforts to expand the total number of county-owned ECDE centers.

Governor Abdulswamad Nassir said the county is guided by the national policy on ECDE, which prioritizes expanding access, improving quality and strengthening service delivery through infrastructure, nutrition and teacher professionalism.

“Our efforts to intensify investment in ECDE centres are aimed at giving young learners a strong start in life,” Nassir said on Thursday in his office.

Already, the county has hired 130 ECDE teachers across the county to improve the quality of ECDE across public centres.

The county has also rolled out a free school feeding program that is already benefiting more than 12,000 children across the county.

The feeding program has seen an increase in enrolment with the construction of new modern classrooms significantly increasing interest from parents, especially those from humble backgrounds, who had initially hesitated on sending their children to ECDE centres.

Nassir said, “The interventions are aligned with the national government’s vision of ensuring every child, regardless of background, has access to quality early learning.”

“ECDE is the foundation of a child’s future. When we invest at this level, we are not just building classrooms, we are shaping the future of Mombasa,” Nassir said.

“Our focus is on access, quality and dignity - from proper classrooms and trained teachers to nutrition that allows our children to learn effectively.”

He said the infrastructure upgrades are critical to creating safe and conducive learning spaces.

“We are moving away from mabati classrooms to permanent structures that reflect the value we place on our children. A dignified learning environment is essential for both learners and teachers,” he said.

Parents, teachers and other stakeholders said the free feeding program has improved attendance and reduced dropout rates, especially in vulnerable communities where many children rely on school meals as a primary source of nutrition.

Margaret Angore, a Majaoni resident, said her two children at Majaoni ECD, have been struggling to grasp whatever they were taught in class.

“Each time they come home, they talk more about the heat or the rain that pounded the school than what they were taught. This worries me because eventually, days and moving and I feared they might not get the foundation they need to prosper in primary school,” Angore said.

She is, however, hopeful the new and modern infrastructure in the school will make her children more comfortable and be able to concentrate more on what they are taught than what they experience as challenges.

“Now I can be proud to announce to anyone that my children are learning at Majaoni ECD,” she said.

Masoud Mohamed, the teacher-in-charge at Majaoni ECD, said the school has seen a remarkable transformation in school, which had been an iron-sheet school since 2017.

“It was tough then. When it rained, it was difficult because of leaking roofs, and when it was sunny, it was unbearable because of the heat,” Mohamed said.

This, he noted, made it difficult for the children to concentrate.

He said the construction of the new building has made more parents seek chances for their children at the school.

“Now we are waiting for him to fulfill his pledge to have exercise books and other things,” the teacher-in-charge said.

He said he would welcome more modern ECDs in Mombasa.

Mombasa County education executive Mbwarali Kame said the development of Mombasa children, especially in education, is a priority for the county government.

“The governor has established a good working relationship with the MCAs, especially Bamburi’s Patrick Mbelle, who has also taken education dearly to his heart,” Kame said.

This has made it easier for them to work on educational projects that have seen many children across the county get the basic foundation they need to prosper in terms of education.

Mbelle said the Majaoni ECD will not only benefit the children but the also the whole society.

“The children will move from the iron-sheet structure they used to learn in and move to modern classrooms with fans, proper floors, and furniture that will be comfortable for them.

“This comfort will enable them to concentrate in class and develop as they should,” the MCA said.