Governors Reject National Government Takeover of ECDE Centers
Governors oppose plans to return management of Early Childhood and Development (ECDE) centers to the national government.
County chiefs claim through the Council of Governors (COG) that the national government did not follow the proper processes for taking over devolved tasks.
Fernandes Barasa, the Kakamega Governor and chairperson of the COG Finance, Economic, and Planning Affairs Committee, stated that the Ministry of Education should follow proper procedures, including an inter-governmental agreement, before taking over management of Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centers.
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The Chair of Finance at the Council of Governors conveyed a message to the national government, asserting that ECDE (Early Childhood Development Education) is a fully devolved function.
The statement emphasized the unwillingness to allow the function to be reclaimed by the national government through what was described as an illegal procedure, as expressed by Barasa.
The governor addressed during the finals of the Lugari NG-CDF tournament held on the grounds of Lugari Primary School. He believes that the government should reexamine the idea and allow counties to operate ECDE facilities.
This news comes on the heels of Education CS Ezekiel Machogu’s pronouncement that ECDEs are now part of comprehensive schools, which include pre-primary, primary, and junior secondary levels.
Machogu, in a television interview, announced that the comprehensive schools are scheduled to commence in January. He mentioned that head teachers would be responsible for overseeing the transition from pre-primary up to Grade 9, ensuring a smooth and coordinated implementation process.
ALSO READ: Headteachers Take Over ECDE from County Govts as Comprehensive Schools Reopen in January
Barasa also encouraged President William Ruto to keep his pledge by completing the transfer of devolved powers and associated resources before the end of the current fiscal year.
CoG Chair Anne Waiguru stated in a letter dated December 28, 2023 that the management of ECDE is primarily the responsibility of county governments. Waiguru stated that the responsibility of managing Early Childhood Development (ECD) centers is preserved for counties.
She emphasized that there has been no legal enactment or official arrangement to alter the existing status quo. The Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms suggested repealing the Early Childhood Education Act earlier this year in order to merge early childhood education into basic education.
According to the Working Party on Education Reforms, basic education begins in pre-primary and ends in senior high school. Furthermore, the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms proposed that the Education Ministry, CoG, and Teacher Service Commission (TSC) work together to create an inter-governmental agreement on the employment and remuneration of Pre-Primary teachers.
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Nabii Nabwera, MP for Lugari, voiced concern over the delayed disbursement of funding, which he feels will make it difficult for school heads to successfully manage institutions in the coming academic year. Nabwera stated that he submitted a letter to Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi and Majority Leader Kimani Ichungwa on January 1, 2024, urging Parliament to reconvene next week for an urgent deliberation on the problem.
Nabwera conveyed that bursary funds and Constituency Development Fund (CDF) had not been received, and schools were awaiting capitation monies. She urged the Speaker to facilitate an early resumption of sessions to discuss the development budget.
The MP emphasized the urgency, stating that no funds for bursaries, CDF, or school capitation had been received. She appealed to fellow members to endorse her motion for an immediate session to address the imminent crisis and standstill in schools due to the absence of funds.
Governors Reject National Government Takeover of ECDE Centers
