Factors influencing Parent’s Participation In Early Childhood Development and Education In Pre-Schools: A Case of Lioki Zone, Githunguri district.

Abstract

The central problem of this study was to establish the influence of parents' participation on the development of ECD Programmes case for Lioki sub-location, Githunguri District. The main focus of the study was to identify the impact of parents' socio-economic status, education level and marital status and their impact on development of ECD Programmes. The literature review outlines poverty situation in Kenya, causes of poverty situation in Kenya, improving child quality, poverty and provision of quality education, importance of early years in ECD, Education policy, creating synergistic effects of health and early stimulation, theoretical and conceptual frameworks. The target population comprised of 80 respondents from 5 private and 5 public pre-schools out of 22 pre-schools in the zone. The population precisely comprised of 10 pre-school head teachers, 80 parents and 90 pre-school children. The sample enhanced easy management of data as a representative of the whole zone and to draw general conclusions about the situation from the facts generated. The study adopted field survey design to investigate the influence of parents' participation in the development of ECD Programmes. The design helped collect data in its current and natural setting. The research instruments used were a questionnaire filled by head teachers to give feedback from the pre-schools. The questionnaire consisted of structured items accompanied by appropriate options from which respondents selected the required responses on different aspects of the study. The researcher also used an interview guide for parents. An observation schedule was also used to monitor physical facilities and children's well being. Data was collected from both primary and secondary sources while primary data was elicited from the sample, the secondary data to support it originated from wide reading of books, journals, government documents and the internet. The analysis of data was done using tables, percentages and descriptions. The study found out that parent’s participation in private ECD centers was better than in public ECD centers. The study recommends that there is need for community mobilization and capacity building awareness on ECD so as to sustain ECD centers.