Busia Governor Dr Paul Otuoma has announced plans to recruit additional Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) teachers and construct 105 new classrooms in the current financial year to address staffing and infrastructure gaps in the sector.
Dr Otuoma made the announcement on Thursday during the Busia County ECDE Teachers' Conference 2026, held in Busia Town, which brought together teachers, education stakeholders and development partners.
The governor said his administration was prioritising early childhood education through investments in infrastructure, teacher development, inclusive learning and school nutrition programmes.
He disclosed that the county had constructed 97 ECDE classrooms in the first phase and another 76 in the second phase, bringing the total number of completed classrooms to 173.
The county is targeting an additional 105 classrooms in the current financial year as part of efforts to expand access to quality pre-primary education and improve the learning environment for young children.
On staffing, Dr Otuoma said he had directed the County Public Service Board to fast-track the recruitment of additional ECDE teachers to address personnel shortages in public learning institutions.
He also instructed the Finance Department to ensure that all statutory and other applicable deductions are remitted before the end of the year, in a move aimed at addressing concerns about teachers' welfare.
The governor commended ECDE teachers for their contribution to foundational learning, noting that their role was critical in nurturing children's cognitive, social and emotional development.
The conference was held under the theme "Transforming Pre-primary Education through Quality Learning, Nurturing Care and Inclusive Education."
Dr Otuoma said the county government would continue strengthening partnerships with teachers, parents, communities and development partners to improve service delivery in the ECDE sector. He maintained that the county's interventions were aimed at ensuring equitable access to quality early childhood education, irrespective of children's social or economic backgrounds.
The conference provided a platform for education stakeholders to deliberate on strategies for improving the quality, inclusivity and delivery of pre-primary education across Busia County.
Reader Discussion (0)
Sign in to comment