Centre Related Factors Influencing Implementation Of Curriculum In Early Childhood Development Programmes In Turkana County, Kenya

ABSTRACT

Curriculum implementation entails putting into practice the officially prescribed courses of study. Effective curriculum implementation results in both short and long term benefits to children and eventually the entire society. The purpose of this study was to investigate the related factors influencing implementation of curriculum in Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres in Turkana County, Kenya. The objectives of this study were to establish the influence of physical facilities, teaching-learning materials, feeding programmes and teacher-child ratio on implementation of ECDE curriculum in Turkana County. To achieve these objectives, the study applied descriptive research design. The target population was all 205 ECD teachers and 205 Centres in Turkana Central Sub-County which was purposively selected. The sample size was 55 teachers and 55 ECD centres in two Wards out of five in the Turkana Central Sub-county. The data was collected through observation and interview schedules. The validity of the data collected was determined by content validity, while the reliability of the instruments was determined by applying test-retest method. The data was collected, coded and analyzed using descriptive statistics. The study admitted that nearly two-thirds of the ECDE centres in Turkana central did not have physical facilities and teaching-learning materials. The study also established that majority of the ECD Centres did not have feeding programmes and teacher-pupil ratio was very high and was having a negative effect on the implementation of the ECDE curriculum. As a result of the study findings it was recommended that the County Government should construct more classrooms, support the ECD centres with more thematic materials for making interest corners in classrooms, and provide adequate food regularly as well as employing more teachers who are qualified