BY ELIJAH GICHUNGE

PHOTO: PHOEBE OKALL

A partnership between Meru Government and Kenya Literature Bureau (KLB) has seen 1534 ECDE teachers across the County graduate, in the recent past, following a training on Value addition for the growth and sustainability of the early childhood learning Education.

The training led by Mr. Evance Toto Nyachienga, KLB Business Development Manager, covered different modules in the preparation of the learning materials, identification of learners with special needs, pedagogical skills, linking KLB books to the New Competence based Curriculum, CBC implementation as well as personal growth.

Presiding over the graduation Ceremony at Kinoru Stadium, Governor Kiraitu highlighted that education is not only about books but also life. He said the ECDE education has for long since been neglected while the young learners need also be taught on other social aspects of life.

Kiraitu expressed his joy for the great qualifications the teachers and other stakeholders have. Most of them have diploma, bachelors and masters. He added the training was necessary as no perfect teacher can teach without teaching aids, materials or good methods. This is why he has invested heavily on ECDE learning materials. His government, he said, invested sh. 21million on ECDE Learning Materials so has to boost the kid’s education.

The Governor emphasized on the need to teach the young learners the basic Kimeru language, tell them Kimeru tales, so that they can learn more on the Kimeru culture, as the constitution allows.

"Let us find opportunities to ground our children and promote their listening skills" emphasized the Governor.

The Deputy Governor Hon. Titus Ntuchiu, congratulated the teachers noting that the Governor instructed him, as the CEC Finance, to make the budget adjustment in order to engage the aforementioned teachers on permanent basis and also pay their arrears that were left by the last regime.

CEC Education, Linnet Nkirote asked the teachers to apply the learnt knowledge in order to help the Governor improve the quality of education among the young learners. "I know having trained on the competence based curriculum earlier on, combined with this week's training, I know our kids are in good hands." Said the CEC.

Evans Toto, pledged through the partnership, to help the Meru ECDE teachers raise their bars. This, he said KLB will help develop learning materials into local language as well as identify the right ones.

The Governor was also accompanied by the County Secretary, Dr. Rufus Miriti, Chief of Staff, Gideon Kimathi and CEC Legal Affairs, Kiutha Arithi, County Assembly Majority leader, Hon. Victor Mutuma, who hailed the ECDE teachers training training and milk programs.