Governor Benjamin Cheboi during a visit to an ECDE centre in Baringo CountyThe Baringo government has expanded the school feeding programme for Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centres in food-insecure areas and informal settlements to improve enrolment and learner retention.
Governor Benjamin Cheboi said his administration remains committed to strengthening ECDE through improved infrastructure, increased enrolment and better nutrition for young learners.
"Our position and commitment is
that we must give young learners a good beginning, both in terms of their
education and their health," the governor said.
He spoke while opening
the Kituro and Kasore ECDE centres in Ewalel/Chapchap ward in Baringo Central subcounty. He was accompanied by area MCA Ayub Kibet.
Cheboi said the expanded feeding
programme, alongside the provision of clean water, will target vulnerable areas
including Tiaty, Mogotio and Baringo South, where food insecurity continues to
affect school attendance.
He said the initiative is expected to improve enrolment, attendance and learner retention in ECDE centres.
The governor said his administration
is investing heavily in ECDE infrastructure and learning
environments, with more centres now fully equipped with furniture for both
learners and teachers.
Two years ago, the
county converted the majority of ECDE teachers from contract terms to permanent
and pensionable employment, significantly improving their welfare and job security.
Earlier this year,
every ECDE centre received Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC)-compliant learning
materials. Cheboi said the county will continue supplying instructional
resources and other essential learning materials to improve the quality of
early childhood education.
Baringo has 1,153 ECDE units,
including six that cater for children with special needs. The county has so far
constructed 818 permanent classrooms and the centres currently serve more than
51,000 learners with the support of over 2,000 teachers.
The county is continuously improving the terms and conditions of service for ECDE teachers as
part of efforts to strengthen the sector.
"All this is to ensure that our
learners in ECDE centres receive quality education. With modern facilities and
adequate teachers, we have strengthened early childhood education in our
county," he said.
He said expanding the feeding
programme will encourage more parents to enrol and keep their children in
school, noting that hunger remains one of the biggest obstacles to education,
particularly in the county's arid and semi-arid areas.
