| dc.description.abstract | Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) globally and Kenya in
particular has been recognized as a child's holistic and integrated education that
meets the cognitive, socio moral, spiritual, emotional, physical and developmental
needs. The purpose of the study was to investigate the socio economic factors
influencing internal efficiency at ECD centers in Mwingi Central District, Kitui
County. The objectives were; to determine the extent to which school physical
facilities influence enrolments at ECD centers in Mwingi Central District; to
assess the extent to which teacher’s level of training influences performance of
children at ECD centers in Mwingi Central District; to establish the extent to
which feeding programme influences school dropout rate at ECD centers in
Mwingi Central District; to determine the extent to which parent level of income
influences completion rate at ECD centers in Mwingi Central District. The study
used descriptive research survey design. A total of 124 ECD centers were
targeted. . To carry out the research, 19 ECD centers, 38 head teachers, 30
teachers, 186 school committee members and 633 parents were randomly
selected. The analyzed data was presented in tables and graphs. The researcher
found that the number of children in the schools per class was 21-40 children.
Teacher turnover rate was average. Classroom management and teachers attitude
affected performance at ECD centres to a very great extent as shown by 73% and
69% respectively. Free feeding programme helps to reduce school dropout rate as
shown by 70% and parents feel more secure when their kids are provided with
food at ECD centre. Ability to pay school fees helped to increase completion rate
at ECD centres as shown by 76%. The researcher concludes that the ECD classes
had a manageable population. The schools had physical facilities though they
were not enough. There was minimal absenteeism and turnover among the
teachers. This study recommends the CDF committee members to offer funds for
developing ECD centers. The ministry of education needs to offer short courses
and seminars for ECD teachers to help them change with time. The school
committee needs to come up with a feeding programme which is cheap and
affordable. | en_US |
