By Governor’s Press Service
MARSABIT- In a move to bolster early childhood education, Governor Mohamud M. Ali – Abshiro presided over a landmark ceremony that saw 250 Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) teachers transition from contract to permanent and pensionable employment status within the county’s public service.
Additionally, 100 new ECDE teachers were welcomed into the fold, also on permanent and pensionable terms.
During the ceremony, the governor highlighted the critical importance of investing in early childhood education as a means to fight poverty, address inequality, and lay the foundation for sustained socioeconomic growth.
He pointed out that although the importance of education is widely recognized, the challenge lies in taking meaningful action based on this understanding.
The governor acknowledged the previous shortcomings in giving due attention to ECDE as a fully-fledged sub-sector of public education in Kenya. However, since the 2010 Constitution placed ECDE under the responsibility of County Governments, Marsabit has taken significant steps to prioritize this crucial stage of education.
Over the past few years, Marsabit County has made substantial efforts to enhance its ECDE sector.
Launching a new chapter in ECD Education! Today, we distributed instructional resources to 300 ECD centres, benefiting 18,000 children in Marsabit County. This initiative aims to create stimulating, interactive, and inclusive learning experiences. pic.twitter.com/eSOzGRz33J
— Gov Mohamud M. Ali, EGH (@GovMohamudAli) February 12, 2024
The conversion of contracts to permanent employment for existing teachers and the recruitment of new ones are expected to bring the total number of teachers in the sector to over 404.
This move demonstrates the county’s commitment to stability and growth within the education sector.
In addition to the employment updates, Governor Ali announced the completion of training for over 287 ECDE teachers in the delivery of the Competency-Based Curriculum, with certificates of competency issued during the event.
This training is part of the county’s continuous effort to improve the quality of education at the foundational levels.
The ceremony also marked the launch of new instructional and learning resources, which will be distributed across 300 ECD centers in the county, benefiting approximately 18,000 ECDE children.
These resources are designed to address the full spectrum of developmental and learning needs of young children, ranging from physical and socio-emotional to cognitive aspects.
Governor Ali took the opportunity to address the newly employed teachers directly, emphasizing the crucial role that teachers play in delivering high-quality education.
He urged them to be dedicated, intentional, and reflective in their practice, focusing not only on academic learning but also on instilling values such as love, tolerance, national cohesion, and peaceful coexistence in the children under their care.
The governor expressed his confidence in the new and regularized teachers, encouraging them to continue their professional development and contribute to transforming the lives of the county’s young children.
