The Senate committee advises Momba education programs.
Mombasa County’s investment in infrastructure, feeding programs, and efforts to ensure fair access to education have been praised by the Senate Committee on Education for the advancements made in Early Childhood Development (ECD).
As part of their nationwide oversight tour, the committee traveled to the area under the leadership of Chairperson Senator Betty Montet.
The senators learned during a briefing with Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir that the county now has more than 44,820 ECD learners in 94 public schools, 24 special needs centers, and 955 licensed private schools.
Nassir stated, “We are dedicated to making sure that all children in Mombasa have access to a high-quality early education.”
“The county government completely covers ECD learners with a yearly allocation of Sh3,200 per child. This is entirely supported by the county government; parents do not make any contributions,” he stated.
The money pays for infrastructure, teaching, and instructional resources. The governor confirmed that 12 new centers are being built and that two cutting-edge schools have already been finished for Sh29 million.
Each of the facilities has a separate play space, four classrooms, a staff lounge, and restroom amenities.
Nevertheless, the Taita Taveta Senator, Mwashushe Mwaruma, immediately raised the question of the uniformity of pricing, asking whether all the facilities had a set cost of 29 million.
The county authorities replied that the amount covers plans for potential development, with buildings constructed on solid foundations to support the anticipated rise in population.
Additionally, the county’s ECD feeding program, which provides warm meals to 8,000 to 10,000 youngsters every day at a cost of Sh30 per kid, was brought to attention.
Furthermore, the county has hired 342 ECD teachers, 210 of whom are on permanent and pensionable status, and the remainder of whom are on temporary contracts.
According to Nassir, the previous administration hired a large number of instructors, and the county is attempting to improve job conditions, such pay and medical insurance.
“No child should miss school due to hunger since meals are given every day and it’s not a once-in-a-while effort,” the governor said.
“It’s a conversation worth having,” the governor stated, noting that ECD is the basis of our educational system and that we are already making significant investments in it.
In addition, Nassir explained how the county has restructured its TVET schools to meet market needs by adding new courses in maritime studies in order to take advantage of the area’s economic prospects.
“We also have ambitious plans to turn Mtongwe Vocational Training Center into a Blue Economy Hub that trains and equips people with skills that will benefit our Coastal Economy,” he added.
Additionally, the governor emphasized the county’s prior learning recognition program, which grants certificates to individuals who are now employed in the trades, transportation, and seafaring industries.
Additionally, the senators asked how such a strong curriculum could be sustained considering that vocational education was said to have not been given any funding.
The governor stated that Sh15 million had been set aside for vocational training, with Sh4 million having already been distributed.
One of the strategies is to turn a swimming pool into a blue economy center in Mtongwe, Likoni, where young people will learn the skills they need for maritime jobs.
In the meantime, Mombasa County has made sustainable water access a top priority by digging boreholes at twenty schools in order to provide students with access to clean drinking water.
Additionally, the county is concentrating on making sure that cleanliness facilities adhere to acceptable standards, especially in ECD centers that share space with elementary schools.
Additionally, the governor stated that the county is investing in youth skills through the Skills Mtaani program, which offers financial literacy and vocational training.
Additionally, the governor emphasized programs aimed at assisting young people in acquiring birth certificates and national IDs so that they are not denied access to educational and employment opportunities.
The Senate Committee, for its part, stated that Mombasa is one of the counties that is making significant progress in puting ECD programs into practice.
Montet remarked, “We are impressed, and this is our seventh county to visit.”
“The real power of devolution is that Mombasa is laying a solid foundation, especially for those who may not transition to university.”
The committee is anticipated to present the Senate with a report including proposals for policy, financing, and the structure of the workforce.
