ABSTRACT
The early years of a child's life are a time when it acquires concepts, skills and attitudes
that lay the foundation for lifelong learning. Children's success in life begins in the early
years of childhood. Investment in Early Childhood Education (ECE) has a direct and
positive impact on primary school enrolment, retention and completion. This sector of
education does not receive direct government financial support as other sectors of
education and therefore relies on a number of stakeholders for financial, human, physical
and teaching/learning resources. The purpose of this study was to investigate the
influenceof stakeholders support on the effective provision of ECE in Kenya. The study
adopted a descriptive survey design to investigate this in Kakamega County, Kenya.
Purposive sampling was used to select 3 sub-counties with both the rural and urban
settings in the County which was approximately 30 % of the population. Three subcounties
with this dichotomy were Kakamega Central, Mumias and Likuyani.
Proportionate stratified random sampling was used to select the participating ECE. Thirty
percent (30 %) of the public and private ECEs were sampled. This resulted into 62 public
and 122 private ECEs participating in the study. Head teachers from each E'CE
participated in the study making a total of 62 and 122 head teachers from private and
public ECE respectively. One teacher from the sampled ECE participated in the study.'
The DEOs and DICECE Officers of the selected sub-counties were selected purposively
to participate in the study. The sample frame consisted of 184 head teachers, 184
teachers, 3 DEOs and 3 DICECE officers. Structured questionnaires were used to collect
data from the ECE head teachers and teachers, interview schedules from the DEOs and
DICECE officers and observation schedules used to collect data on availability of
teaching learning resources and physical facilities in the ECE centres. The instruments
were validated through expert judgement and pilot-testing. Reliability for the
questionnaires was estimated using Cronbach's coefficient Alpha which was 0.75 and
deemed adequate for the study. Collected data was edited, organised in line with research
questions, coded and analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Both
descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse data. Findings were presented in
frequency tables, charts and graphs. The findings of the study revealed that parents gave
the highest financial support to the ECE centres which was mainly used to fund recurrent
expenditure. Majority of the centres charged low fees which was inadequate to sustain the.
ECE programmes. The teachers funded their own professional development with little
help from the national government. The results further revealed that funds provided by
the parents were used to pay teachers' salaries and buy instructional materials. However,
there existed disparities in adherence to the service standard guideline in provision of
physical facilities by stakeholders in favour of the private ECE centres. The study
findings are likely to be useful to the government and other stakeholders to improve
services in ECE sector. The study recommends that the government should streamline
ECE within the policy of free primary education, the ministry of education infrastructure
fund should be extended to ECE centres and ECE teachers
, E (2021). Influence Of Stakeholders' Support On Provision Of , Early Childhood Education Programmes In Kenya: A Case Of Kakamega County.. Afribary. Retrieved from https://track.afribary.com/works/influence-of-stakeholders-support-on-provision-of-early-childhood-education-programmes-in-kenya-a-case-of-kakamega-county
, EmmilyMugasia "Influence Of Stakeholders' Support On Provision Of , Early Childhood Education Programmes In Kenya: A Case Of Kakamega County." Afribary. Afribary, 07 May. 2021, https://track.afribary.com/works/influence-of-stakeholders-support-on-provision-of-early-childhood-education-programmes-in-kenya-a-case-of-kakamega-county. Accessed 06 Nov. 2024.
, EmmilyMugasia . "Influence Of Stakeholders' Support On Provision Of , Early Childhood Education Programmes In Kenya: A Case Of Kakamega County.". Afribary, Afribary, 07 May. 2021. Web. 06 Nov. 2024. < https://track.afribary.com/works/influence-of-stakeholders-support-on-provision-of-early-childhood-education-programmes-in-kenya-a-case-of-kakamega-county >.
, EmmilyMugasia . "Influence Of Stakeholders' Support On Provision Of , Early Childhood Education Programmes In Kenya: A Case Of Kakamega County." Afribary (2021). Accessed November 06, 2024. https://track.afribary.com/works/influence-of-stakeholders-support-on-provision-of-early-childhood-education-programmes-in-kenya-a-case-of-kakamega-county