Hon. Paul Thairu, HSC, CECM Education, led a team of top officials from the County Department of Education in handing over the County’s ECDE project to the awarded contractor in Nairobi area, Witu Ward on Monday 31st January 2021.

The Nairobi area ECDE project is one of seven that the Department of Education will commission this year, with Tewa, Muungano, Muhamarani, and Mugumoini already turned over last week, January 25th 2022.

Speaking during the handover ceremony at Nairobi area, Education CECM Hon Paul Thairu, HSC, underlined that, Governor Fahim Twaha’s administration is determined to expanding access to quality early learning to set Lamu’s young children on a brighter path to lifelong learning.

‘Education is at the heart of Governor Fahim Twaha’s approach to social reform, and we are dedicated to supporting a holistic early childhood development for the County’s future generation of children aged 4-5 years. Hon Thairu stated, “We have been on a journey to establish a solid and long-lasting basis for Lamu’s ECDE sector.”

“In a child’s first five years, the brain matures faster than at any other time and is at its most malleable – these early years are a critical period for getting children the care and learning opportunities we know they need to succeed in school and grow up to be healthy and productive adults,” he added.

Mr. Abdalla Ahmed, Chief Officer Education, said the project will provide relief to Nairobi area’s youngest learners, who have previously been forced to walk long distances to school.

“Because at 4-5 years old these children are particularly vulnerable, it is critical that they study in a safe, congenial atmosphere closer to home rather than trekking long distances to school.” Mr. Ahmed stated

In the last four fiscal years, the County Government has built a total of 28 ECDEs, with seven more planned for this fiscal year. Aside from infrastructure, the County has hired over 112 ECDE instructors, with 80% of them already promoted to the next job group.

Over 4,000 seats and 1300 tables were sent to each of the 145 ECDEs across the county last financial year, together with KSh 5 million worth of teaching materials.

Witu ward MCA, Hon. Jonathan Mketa, Assistant County Commissioner, Emmanuel Koech, Area Chief, Simon Macharia, Mr. Athman Kheri, ECDE coordinator, Edwin Karanja, Quantity Surveyor, and Mr. Charles Murigi, Building Inspector were among those in attendance._

Ends_

For more information contact:

Lamu County Government Communications Office at

info@lamu.go.ke

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