Implementation of early childhood development education service standard guidelines on physical facilities in public and private early childhood education centres Kakamega County, Kenya

Abstract

In 2006, the Kenyan Ministry of Education (MoE) developed an early childhood development education (ECDE) service standard guidelines to guide the ECDE stakeholders in provision of early childhood education (ECE) programmes. The study sought to investigate the implementation of the ECDE service standard guidelines on provision of physical facilities in ECE centres in Kakamega County. A descriptive survey design was adopted. Head teachers and ECE teacher were the study subjects. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data. The instruments were validated through expert judgement and pilot testing. The findings revealed that there were no significant differences in adherence to the government guidelines in provision of classrooms and furniture. Nonetheless, significant differences existed between the two categories in adherence to the government guidelines in provision of water and sanitary and play facilities. The study recommended that the MoE infrastructure fund should be extended to ECE centres.