Society involvement in early childhood plans and childcare in Masalani Zone Masalani Division, Ijara District Kenya

Abstract

The research is aimed at establishing the factors affecting/ influencing community participation in ECD programmes in Masalani zone, Masalani division, Ijara district Kenya. Secondary sources were adequately used and these helped to give a clear picture of how the whole study was to be conducted. The study utilized a descriptive survey design to investigate community participation in ECD programme and childcare. Questionnaires and interview guides were employed and used as the instruments for data collection. The findings from the study revealed the following: Community involvement in ECD programmes is very low. Most of ECD pupils learn under trees and sit on ground .. Community/parents need to be mobilized on the importance ofECD programme. ECD teachers have no policy guideline on the terms and conditions of services. Most of the ECD centres in the zone have less learning materials provided by the community. Rccommcndaiions were made: Community/ parents should agree on uniform fees to be paid per child. Community/ parents/ committees to work on the average salary for the teachers in the zone. Community should be encouraged to use their resources in the child education. Community should organize for fundraising for the construction of classrooms, making desks and buying materials for the ECD programmes. There should be a centrally feeding programme at the ECD centre in the zone