Access to quality foundation-level education plays an important role in shaping a child’s future, laying the groundwork for lifelong learning, personal growth, and social development.
Governor Susan Kihika says without strong early education, children risk falling behind, limiting their potential and weakening broader community and national development prospects.
The Governor spoke during a commissioning ceremony for 498 Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) teachers recently employed on permanent and pensionable terms.
“These teachers will now serve in public ECDE centres across all 55 wards, bringing us closer to our goal of ensuring that every child in Nakuru has access to quality foundation-level education,” she stated.
For years, the Governor said, the teachers served diligently on contract or Board of Management terms, missing out on long-term job security, stable incomes, and essential employment benefits.
The Governor said onboarding the teachers on permanent and pensionable basis was part of her 2022 campaign pledges and more would be absorbed progressively, funds permitting.
“I urged the new teachers to serve with passion, professionalism, and unwavering dedication to nurturing the next generation,” she passionately appealed.
She revealed that the County Uji Program had increased ECDE enrolment from 59,000 to 65,000 learners in just one year, with the number of centres growing from 1,003 to 1,068.
The County is steadily improving ECDE infrastructure by constructing age-appropriate classrooms with terrazzo floors, ceilings, toilets, water tanks, and providing child-friendly furniture.
County Minister for Education, Zipporah Wambui echoed the Governor’s sentiments, saying the hiring secures teachers’ futures and improves learning outcomes for thousands of children across the county.
County Assembly of Nakuru’s Education Committee chairman, Peter Njoroge welcomed the move, saying it would ease a major burden previously shouldered by both teachers and struggling parents.