Integration Of The National Goals Of Education In Early Childhood Development And Education In Kenya A Case Study Of Kalundu Zone Kitui County

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the research was to investigate the integration of the national goals of education in early childhood education in Kenya. The study was guided by the following specific objectives; to examine the influence of financial resources, to establish the significance of the teaching and learning resources, to identify the influence of socio-economic factors and to investigate the influence of teacher-child ratio on the integration of the national goals of education in early childhood education in Kalundu Zone, Kitui County. This study employed a descriptive survey research design. The target population was 158 respondents comprising of 28 head teachers, and 130 pre-school teachers. Simple random sampling and Purposive sampling were used to select the respondents. The sample size was 66 respondents comprising of 14 head teachers, and 52 pre-school teachers. The researcher used both the quantitative and the qualitative analysis of the data obtained. The researcher also used the Spearman’s correlation coefficient to test objective number four. This study established that financial resources, teaching and learning resources, socio-economic factors and teacher-child ratio influence effective implementation of ECDE education programs in preschools in Kalundu Zone, Kitui County, Kenya. The findings of the study revealed that holding independent variables constant (financial resources, teaching and learning resources, socio-economic factors and teacher-pupil ratio) to a constant zero, effective early childhood development and education in Kalundu Zone, Kitui County, Kenya would be at 47.5%. A unit increase in the financial resources would lead to an increase in effective early childhood development and education in Kalundu Zone, Kitui County, Kenya by a factor of 0.683. A unit increase in the teaching and learning resources would lead to an increase in effective early childhood development and education in Kalundu Zone, Kitui County, Kenya by a factor of 0.702. A unit increase in the socio-economic factors would lead to an increase in effective early childhood development and education in Kalundu Zone, Kitui County, Kenya by a factor of 0.793. A unit increase in teacher-child ratio would lead to an increase in effective early childhood development and education in Kalundu Zone, Kitui County, Kenya by a factor of 0.699. This study recommends that, ECDE programs centers should receive adequate funding, hire and retain qualified teachers, and provide other supports that are crucial for meeting their community’s needs. Policymakers should also recognize that choosing increases in available slots over this goal will jeopardize the economic benefits of preschool programs. ECDE centers should be provided with adequate teaching and learning resources and facilities suitable for ECDE in their learning environment. Families and community leaders should join together to determine how effective preschools are in teaching early literacy and develop advocacy efforts to ensure that parents and community leaders have a voice in improving early learning.