FACTORS INFLUENCING INTERNAL EFFICIENCY IN PUBLIC EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTRES IN MANGA DISTRICT, KENYA.

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to examine factors influencing internal efficiency in public ECD centers in Manga district, Kenya. To achieve this, research questions of the study on teacher’s training, teacher’s salaries, class-size, unit costs, teaching and learning resources and educational wastage were formulated. The study adopted a descriptive survey designed to establish the factors influencing internal efficiency in public ECD centers in Manga district. The study targeted a population of 56 public ECD centers, 56 head teachers and 60 ECD teachers in Manga district out of which a sample of 48 public ECD centers, 48 head teachers and 56 teachers was selected for the study. Data was collected using questionnaires and an observation schedule, coded and classified into major themes from which a summary report was made. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics supported by Tables, graphs, frequency distributions and percentages. Data analyzed formed the basis for the research findings, conclusions and recommendations for the study. The results obtained from teachers and head teachers revealed that gender parity has not been observed in the posting and promotion of head teachers in public ECD centers in Manga district; ECD programme could not be very much affected by their academic and professional qualifications; training of head teachers and ECD teachers was highly useful in enhancing their performance in management and teaching in ECD centers and teacher’s salaries positively affected educational output. The respondents further revealed that large class sizes affected the quality of educational output negatively by limiting effective communication, creating discomfort, overstretching the available resources, among other things; there was a negative relationship between unit costs and enrolment in ECD centers until a maximum point is reached after which the relationship becomes positive; teaching and learning resources were inadequate in most ECD centers in Manga district and that wastage exist in the centers in form of repetitions and drop outs. In view of the findings the researcher recommends that new physical facilities should be build and old ones renovated to facilitate teaching and learning in public ECD centers. Teachers should be hired and paid by the government and promotions of teachers should be done fairly to ensure balancing of teachers. The government should provide free ECD programme to make the programme compulsory for the benefit of all children in Kenya. Head teachers and teachers should be sponsored to attend ECD training programmed so as to improve their teaching skills.