KIRINYAGA County is set to roll out a digital learning programme for all its Early Childhood Development Education learners next year.
The programme, whose objective is to prepare the children for a tech-driven future, will be piloted in five schools before being expanded to more centres.
It’s being implemented in partnership with Kenya National Commission for Unesco, the Ministry of Education, Zizi Afrique Foundation and Ollin Sacco.
Ahead of the roll out, the county is training all 401 ECDE teachers from 200 centres to equip them with essential information and communication technology skills for the digital learning.
The two-week training programme, unveiled on Tuesday at Kiamikuyu Polytechnic, will equip the teachers with skills on ICT integration, digital literacy, Competency-Based Curriculum teaching methods and curriculum unpacking.
Governor Anne Waiguru said the digital learning initiative will benefit about 16,398 learners across the county.
“We have consistently replaced exiting ECDE teachers, equipped them with CBC-aligned teaching aids and offered refresher courses, boosting classroom engagement and improving learner outcomes,” she said.
Select schools have been equipped with ICT devices and digital tools for preparing learners for a tech-driven future and bridging the digital divide.
Deputy Governor David Githanda said the county is restructuring foundational learning to align with global standards.
“This training marks a big milestone for every child in Kirinyaga. ECDE teachers shape the character, confidence and development of a child. That is why this programme covers all teachers without exception”.
He added that the county has already strengthened the welfare of ECDE personnel to ensure stability and professionalism.
“We reviewed their contracts and made them permanent and pensionable. We increased their salaries and invested in digital learning devices. This is an intense programme, and we shall support you fully,” Githanda said.
Acting education executive Millicent Ngari said the training acknowledges the central role ECDE teachers play in behaviour formation and early cognitive development.
Digital learning, she pointed out, is a huge milestone for the county, and that the training will equip teachers with skills that reflect the realities of modern classrooms and the expectations of the new curriculum.
KNATCOM CEO David Njogu praised the county administration for pioneering the first structured digital training programme for ECDE teachers in the country.
“Kirinyaga is the first to organise such a comprehensive programme. Digital learning is an important foundation for young children. Building teacher capacity in digital technology ensures we use these tools effectively in early learning,” he said.
ECDE, he observed, is the bedrock of all learning in the life of a child, emphasising the role it plays in the development of children’s personalities.
Njogu said technological tools have transformed the mainstream culture, including how families manage their daily lives, how teachers use learning materials in classrooms with young children and the delivery of teacher education, and professional development.
Teachers attending the training described the initiative as timely and transformative.
Simon Kariuki, a teacher from Raimu ECDE centre, said the initiative will significantly boost teacher-student interaction and boost class attendance.
“We are privileged to be part of this programme. It will help us navigate ICT matters better. We promise that the ICT gadgets provided will be fully utilised for the benefit of the children”.
His sentiments were echoed by Winnie Wairimu from Kimbimbi ECDE centre, who noted that the training will improve the quality of teaching and also provide teachers with easily available teaching for faster delivery of the curriculum.
Wairimu said teachers currently strive to use mobile phones while teaching which she said is time consuming, adding that the programme will revolutionize ECDE learning and provide children with a proper foundation.
by ALICE WAITHERA
