Senator Wakoli raises concern over sorry state of Bungoma ECDE centres affecting CBE

Bungoma County Senator David Wafula Wakoli has sounded the alarm over the sorry state of the Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centres in the county, describing as “neglect” of the youngest learners.

According to the law maker, ECDE classrooms in schools like Luuya Primary school in Kabuchai Constituency and St. Veronica Comprehensive School in Ranje, in Kanduyi Constituency, are in worst condition, which he noted are unattractive learning environment that no child in modern day should be subjected to.

It is also reported that some of the Bungoma County ECDE learners in 828 Centres  are  forced to learn in dilapidated iron sheet shacks, Churches, and even under the trees due to lack of enough classrooms  across the 45 Wards in the County something that has sparked an outrage amongst various stakeholders.

The makeshift structures, Wakoli noted, are poorly ventilated, leak during rains and trap excessive heat during sunny days, creating harsh conditions for both learners and teachers and affecting the implementation of the Competency Based Education (CBE) in the county

“I have inspected the structure at Ranje Comprehensive School and sincerely speaking, it is in a terrible state,” Wakoli told journalists.

He added, “This is not just about infrastructure, it’s about the dignity, health and future of these children. It needs immediate attention from the County Government’s Department of Education,” he added.

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The Bungoma Senator did not hold back in his criticism of the Bungoma County Executive Committee Member for Education Eng. Agnes Wachiye, accusing her of ‘sleeping on the job’ and failing to deliver on her mandate.

“We are talking about ECDE, the foundation stage of a child’s education. If we fail these children now, we set them up for lifelong struggles. Bungoma County receives Ksh13 billion annually to foster development and part of that money is specifically meant for education infrastructure. There is no excuse for this shame,” he said.

Wakoli also questions whether the county leadership had any real concern for the plight of ECDE learners.

“I am very unhappy with the state of this classroom. I honestly don’t know what these learners did to deserve this kind of treatment from their own government. If the county cannot protect its youngest citizens, then what is the point of having devolved functions?” he questioned

Wakoli warned that failing to fulfill this mandate not only violates the children’s right to education, as enshrined in the Constitution, but also undermines the county’s social and economic development in the long run.

“The foundation of any successful education system lies on ECDE. You can’t expect to produce competitive students if their first experience of school is a leaking shack,” he said.

Wakoli added, “Such conditions demotivate learners, frustrate teachers and push parents to lose faith in public education,”

The senator vowed to follow up the matter both within the county assembly and at the Senate level, saying he would not allow Bungoma’s ECDE learners to be forgotten.

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“I am putting Governor Kenneth Lusaka on notice. Do the right thing and give these children a proper classroom. Don’t make them pay for the failures for those in county leadership,” he said.

On their part  Bungoma County ECDE teachers led  by  their representatives Martin Wamalwa, Zipia  Wekati  and Alex  Chemning’oni, they have urged Governor Lusaka  in liason  with  the  Bungoma  County  public  service  board  and the  Assembly  to ensure  that  they allocate more funds to the Department so as to streamline  their  working  procedures  as  per  the  law.

They also demand to be allocated into their their respective  Job Groups, alluding that as per now, they  are  working  without  Confirmation  Letters.

The  ECDE tutors also decried poor working  conditions due  to a lack  of enough  learning  and  instruction  materials  for  the  pupils  something, they say has  demotivated  them  in their  service.

They noted that  they  are tired  of  false  promises  over  their  employment plus their ten months’ salary arrears and are now  demanding  for  formidable  solutions  for a streamlined  workforce.

By Achola Bulimo Mathews