ECDE experts call for day care policy to protect children
By Bernard Gitau, March 11, 2020
Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) experts have called upon the county governments and Department of Basic Education to develop day care policy to protect children.
The experts warned that the current status of day cares are not child-friendly or habitable hence, a law towards their operation is key.
Teresa Mwoma Senior Lecturer at Kenyatta University department of ECDE said private schools are trying to bridge the gap.
“Private schools and some public institutions have introduced playgroup in their system for kids aged less than three years who are not captured by the Basic Education Act,” said Dr Mwoma.
She said Play Group class is also not captured by the new curriculum 2-6-3-3-3 that is replacing the 32-year-old 8-4-4 system.
She was speaking in Nairobi during TheirWorld and Livestream Impact media breakfast meeting on a campaign to make counties set aside 10 percent of their budget on ECDE.
Pre-primary
The new curriculum only accommodates children aged three years for pre-primary school which has PP1 and PP2.
“With most mothers working and lack of quality Day Care facilities, the playgroup is an ideal place for them to take their children as they are safe,” she said.