Preschools in Kenya

1. Preschools in Kenya Mackenzie Gorman Early Childhood Education and Child Psychology double major

2. Preschools in Kenya • The purpose of this assignment is; • To learn more about Kenya's preschool education • Further my knowledge about other preschool systems around the world • Educate my peers about their curriculum • Create a creative power point presentation about what I have learned during my research and help teach others what I have learned as well

3. Kenya’s Preschool Curriculum • Before 1980 preschool education, which was for children ages 1- 6, was the responsibility of local communities such as churches, voluntary organizations, local authorities, and individual investors. Not from non-governmental organizations. • At that time there were only six preschool training centers. • The government took over the responsibility for pre-school education in 1980. • The government now has taken over the responsibility of training of preschool teachers, the preparation and development of the curriculum, and the preparation of teaching materials.

4. Kenya’s Preschool Curriculum • Early childhood education in Kenya did not get much attention until the late 1980s. They didn’t focus on early childhood education before because after independence in 1963, the main priorities were to create a uniquely Kenyan ideology, politics, and constitution. • Since the economy was still rural-based, childhood education didn’t become a necessity until the industrialization of the country increased. • As industries developed in the urban areas and more Kenyans started to work away from home, the demand for early childhood (preschool) education increased. • The preschool education program has grown tremendously over the past 20 years. • The number of children attending preschool in 1990 was 800,000, while the number of preschool teachers was about 20,000. Showing the increased ratio.

5. Kenya’s Preschool Curriculum • Primary education in Kenya began the first phase of the formal educational system. Starting from age 6 and going for 8 years. • Before the expanding of schools in the early 1970s, the beginning age didn’t matter. But, as school enrollment increased in the late 1980s, a starting age for attending school became necessary. • The main purpose of primary education is to prepare children to participate fully in the social, political, and economic well being of the country. • The primary school curriculum has been designed to provide a functional and practical education that caters to the needs of children who finish their education at the primary school level, and to those who continue with secondary education.

6. Kenya’s Preschool Curriculum • There are both public and private primary schools in the country. But most are public schools and depend on the government for their operational expenses. • The government provides teachers, salaries, schools supplies, and equipment. • Children in public schools don’t pay school fees, but rather pay contributions through a parent-teacher association cost sharing system. • The responsibilities for the construction and maintenance of schools and staff housing are left to the parents.

7. Kenya’s Preschool Curriculum • Between 1970 and 1990, there was a large expansion in preschools education. In 1970, there were 6,056 preschool with a total of 891,600 children. • At the same time there was 92,000 trained teachers. • This number increased by 1990 to over 14,690 preschools with an enrollment of over 5 million children and nearly 200,000 trained teachers. • Also as the preschools expanded, there was a significant increase in the number of girls in education. At the beginning of independence, only about a third of the enrollment in primary schools were female. And by 1990 the number of girls attending school increased to about 50 percent.

8. Kenya’s Preschool Curriculum • The curriculum subjects for the first eight years include: English, Kiswahili, mathematics, science, music, history, civics, geography, and religious classes to gain a well rounded education. • The vocational subjects include arts, crafts, agriculture, and home science. Also involve drawing, painting, graphic design, collage/mosaic, weaving, ornament-making clay-pottery, leather work, modeling and carving, fabric designs, puppetry, woodwork, and metal work. These subjects are well defined in the program of study that should make a Kenyan education among the region's best. • At the conclusion of preschools, students take a national exam and receive a Kenya Certificate of Primary Education. Graduates either proceed to a secondary school for four years or join tertiary institutions such as Youth Polytechnics, a technical training institute, or the job market.

9. Kenya Preschool Projects • Some of the projects are; Big brother or sister program • As a volunteer you will be a mentor by becoming a big brother or sister to kids in a children's home. You can work alongside local staff to help with classroom teaching and homework help, childcare, and the daily operational running of the home. Volunteers are also encouraged to initiate their own work by organizing arts and crafts, music, dance, games, sports activities, and day trips for the children. • Having the opportunity to help children in need with children who have lost their parents to HIV/AIDS, children who have been abused by their parents and children whose parents are not able to provide for them. • These kids need love, attention, life skills, and education so they can have successful futures free from poverty and filled with the same opportunities as others.

10. Kenya Preschool Projects • Some of the projects are; Helping teaching • Quality education for both boys and girls is crucial in reducing poverty and promoting gender equality. Schools in Kenya are currently struggling with overcrowded classes and a lack of skilled teachers. • As a volunteer you could help to empower girls and boys by giving them the skills they need to overcome poverty and to make their voice heard. We have opportunities for volunteers to assist with teaching at preschool, primary, and secondary levels. • You could volunteer as a teacher and teach basic English skills and carry out basic childcare duties.

11. Conclusion • Kenyan preschool have come a long way in the past 20 years in regard to; • The population of students at the schools • The ratio of students to teachers • The amount of enrolled females in schools • The improvement of the educational classes offered • The overall improvement of the educational system

12. Work Cited • http://education.stateuniversity.com/pages/773/Kenya-PREPRIMARY-PRIMARY-EDUCATION.html • http://www.globalvolunteernetwork.org/kenya/?gclid=CIKyp87nk6wCFQjc4AodFz-BnA • http://www.villagecare.com/volunteer.php • http://www.nkcef.org/index.php?pageName=kenyaeducation