The county government of Tharaka Nithi, in conjunction with various universities, led by Kenyatta University and Yale University, has released preliminary findings on a randomised controlled trial that sought to analyse the adaptability of 3-year-old children in school. Thus, their mothers had an opportunity to seek income-generating activities, especially farming, a dominant activity in the county.
The study, now in its second year, has involved about 60 schools out of the county’s 454 institutions and has been funded by several institutions.
According to the ongoing study, it has been noted that 3–year–olds have developed cognitive values that favour their enlisting in school as they allow their mothers to engage in income-generating activities that boost the family
This is the first of its kind in the country’s public schools and more so in the rural setting. It was born out of the need for mothers to expeditiously get on their feet after giving birth and raise their children to at least three years.
The whole idea came from the construction of a world-acclaimed creche at the Chuka market, which created avenues for mothers to go to the market with their children and leave them in the hands of a caregiver while they continue with business.
Afterwards, Kenyatta University, in its pursuit of opportunities for women empowerment, partnered with the County Government of Tharaka Nithi to take the programme beyond the market, thus integrating it in the ECDE curriculum, where those that are three years old, are enrolled in school, and taught by specially trained caregivers.
The universities involved in the research have used locally obtained material to come up with cognitive products that can be used for learning, as well as teaching the children in their mother tongue, and in the case of Tharaka Nithi’s diverse dialects, the children are taught in their different dialects.
This has in turn improved enrolment in schools as well as boosted the economic status of areas where the parents are.
According to the Government, the right age for one to go to school is 4 years.
Sam Ngaruiya, a basic education expert from the Ministry of Education, noted that the project has the full blessings of the Government and would be replicated across the country, noting most of the country’s regions have almost the same conditions.
Kenya Bureau of Standards has also been involved in guaranteeing the upholding of standards.
Tharaka Nithi governor Muthomi Njuki approved the study, saying his government would greatly invest in basic education as has been brought out in the study, with the hope that it will not only increase school enrolment, but also provide a proper base for the children’s education as they advance their studies.
Also, the 60 caregivers trained under the programme will be absorbed as the first cohort of those to be employed to cater for the growing number of those enrolling in school
