Kwale County has made significant strides in early childhood education (ECE), earning recognition for its efforts to improve access to quality education for young children.
The county has established over 570 Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centers, staffed by 912 qualified teachers and equipped with learning materials, nutrition programs, and play facilities. These investments have created a strong foundation for holistic child development, setting a benchmark for other regions in Kenya and beyond.
The county’s achievements have attracted the attention of Theirworld, a global organization focused on addressing the education crisis. During a recent visit to Kwale, Theirworld President Justin van Fleet commended the county’s leadership for its unwavering commitment to early childhood education.
He particularly applauded Governor Fatuma Achani for her visionary leadership and the progress made under her administration.
“Kwale County has made impressive progress in early childhood development under the leadership of Governor Fatuma Achani. The work being done here is a great example for other regions, and we are excited to support these efforts,” said van Fleet.
He further emphasized the long-term impact of the county’s initiatives, stating, “Progress has been made over several years in early childhood development, with ambitious plans and a clear vision from the governor and her team to continue expanding investments in this critical area. We’re really happy and excited about the work being done here in Kwale as an example to other governments. We’re actively looking for such examples to replicate this practice. We congratulate the progress of work made in Kwale County.”
Governor Achani highlighted the county’s focus on creating a supportive learning environment for children. “We have invested heavily in early childhood education to ensure that every child in Kwale has access to quality education. Our ECDE centers are equipped with critical resources such as comprehensive learning materials, nutrition programs, and safe, well-equipped play facilities,” she said.
The governor also reiterated her administration’s commitment to scaling up these efforts to reach even more children across the county.
Kwale County is also working on updating its ECDE policy framework to ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of its programs. The current 2016 ECDE Act is set to be replaced with new legislation, developed in collaboration with stakeholders such as the Fanikisha Foundation.
This move aims to strengthen the governance and implementation of early childhood education programs, ensuring they remain responsive to the needs of children and communities.
Theirworld’s visit to Kwale was part of its broader efforts to identify and support successful education initiatives worldwide. The organization expressed its willingness to collaborate with the county to further enhance learning environments and ensure more children benefit from early childhood education.
This partnership underscores the importance of global and local collaboration in addressing the education crisis.
The event took place at the Kwale County Headquarters, where the delegation from Theirworld and the Fanikisha Foundation focused on exploring the County Government’s progress and achievements in the Early Childhood Education (ECDE) sector.
