๐๐๐ง๐๐ญ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐๐ฌ๐ ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฆ๐ฌ
The Senate Committee on Education has praised Mombasa County’s advancements in Early Childhood Development (ECD) due to its investment in infrastructure, feeding programs, and initiatives aimed at providing equal access to education.
The committee, chaired by Senator Betty Montet, visited the area as part of their national oversight tour.
In a briefing with Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir, the senators learned that currently, the county has over 44,820 ECD learners spread across 94 public facilities, 24 special needs centers, and 955 registered private institutions.
โWe are dedicated to ensuring that every child in Mombasa receives a quality early education,โ Nassir said.
โThe county places full funding behind ECD learners with an allocation of Sh3,200 per child annually. Parents are not required to contribute; this is fully funded by the county government,โ he stated.
The funding is directed towards teaching, learning materials, and infrastructure. The governor assured that 12 new centers are being constructed, and two state-of-the-art schools have already been completed at a cost of Sh29 million.
Each of the centers includes four classrooms, a staff room, sanitation facilities, and a designated play area.
However, Taita Taveta Senator Mwashushe Mwaruma quickly sought clarification regarding the consistency of costs, questioning whether Sh29 million was the benchmark for all centers.
County officials responded that this figure accounts for future expansion, with structures built on solid foundations to support anticipated population growth.
The countyโs ECD feeding program was also mentioned, where 8,000 to 10,000 children receive hot meals daily at a cost of Sh30 per child.
Additionally, the county has employed 342 ECD teachers, with 210 on permanent and pensionable contracts, and the remainder on temporary agreements.
Nassir pointed out that many teachers were hired by the previous administration and that the county is striving to standardize employment terms, including salary and medical insurance coverage.
โNo child should be unable to attend school due to hunger, as this is not a sporadic initiative; meals are provided on a daily basis,โ the governor emphasized.
โItโs a conversation worth having,โ the governor remarked, noting that ECD is the cornerstone of our education system, and significant investments are already being made in the program.
Nassir also detailed how the county has improved its TVET institutions to meet market needs by adding new courses in maritime studies to leverage the regionโs economic opportunities.
โWe also have ambitious plans to transform Mtongwe Vocational Training Centre into a Blue Economy Hub, equipping individuals with skills valuable to our Coastal Economy,โ he added.
The governor also brought attention to the countyโs initiative for recognizing prior learning by granting certificates to individuals already engaged in trades, transport, and seafaring.
The senators further inquired how such a comprehensive program could be sustained when vocational training reportedly had no budget allocation.
The governor clarified that Sh15 million has been allocated for vocational training, with Sh4 million already disbursed.
Among the initiatives is the conversion of a swimming pool into a blue economy facility aimed at training youth for maritime careers in Mtongwe, Likoni.
Meanwhile, Mombasa county has made sustainable water access a priority by drilling boreholes in 20 schools to guarantee that learners can access clean drinking water.
The county is also striving to ensure that sanitation facilities comply with acceptable standards, especially in ECD centers that share premises with primary schools.
At the same time, the governor mentioned that the county is investing in youth skills through the Skills Mtaani initiative, which encompasses financial literacy and vocational training.
The governor also emphasized initiatives to assist youth in acquiring birth certificates and national IDs to ensure they are not excluded from education and employment opportunities.
For their part, the Senate Committee observed that Mombasa is among the counties making significant progress in implementing ECD programs.
โThis is our seventh county to visit and weโre impressed,โ Montet stated.
โMombasa is establishing a strong foundation, particularly for those who may not proceed to university. Thatโs the true power of devolution,โ she remarked.
The committee is anticipated to present a report containing recommendations on policy, funding, and employment structure to the Senate.