Busia County to Construct 175 Early Childhood Development Centers

Busia County to Construct 175 Early Childhood Development Centers

The Busia County Government has given the green light for the establishment of 175 Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centers within the next three months, aiming to tackle the pressing shortage of classrooms in the region.

During a press briefing following a county executive meeting at his office, Governor Paul Otuoma emphasized that these new classrooms will foster a nurturing learning atmosphere for the county’s youngest learners.

“We have over 50,000 children distributed across 460 ECDE centers in our area. Many of these facilities are in disrepair, which is why we’ve decided to build five new ECDE centers in each of our 35 wards over the next three months,” he stated.

The governor pointed to financial limitations faced by the counties as a significant barrier to progress, vowing to prioritize the ECDE sector in the upcoming 2025-2026 budget cycle.

“Given the number of children and the ideal class sizes, it’s clear we need more classrooms. Unfortunately, our financial constraints have hindered this effort. We are determined to focus on expanding classroom construction in the next fiscal year, as the foundation of a child’s educational journey begins at the ECDE level,” Otuoma explained.

He further revealed that the project will be overseen by school project management committees to ensure effective management and accountability.

“These initiatives will be supervised by committees comprised of various stakeholders from the schools. This structure will guarantee that the projects are executed as planned, promoting transparency and responsibility. We also encourage sourcing all materials and labor locally, so the community can benefit from these developments,” he added.

The county leader expressed confidence that once the project is completed, there will be a marked improvement in school attendance and a more conducive learning environment for the county’s children.

“We are also dedicated to ensuring that existing centers are well-stocked with essential educational resources, so our young learners receive a quality education,” the governor continued.

He praised the school feeding program launched last year, which he believes will complement the ECDE initiative by enhancing children’s nutrition, thereby boosting enrollment and retention rates.

Poor nutrition has been a persistent challenge in the county. According to a UNICEF report, the region faces a stunting issue, with 15 percent of children affected.