Northern Kenya counties are setting a national benchmark in the employment of Early Childhood Development (ECD) teachers, though education officials caution that recruitment alone cannot guarantee quality education without proper support structures.
Dr. Elyas Abdi Jillaow, the Director-General of Basic Education, singled out Mandera, Wajir, and Garissa counties as pioneers in ECD teacher employment during his address at the 6th National Early Childhood Development Stakeholders Conference in Garissa.
"Counties like Mandera, Wajir, and Garissa are setting the pace in ECD teacher employment. But hiring is just the beginning; supporting and retaining these teachers is the next big task," he stated.
The education official revealed that these counties have not only employed ECD teachers in significant numbers but have also placed graduate-level educators in Job Group K, equivalent to secondary school teachers' entry level.
"There is a lot that other counties can learn from these three counties. Mandera has employed over 850 ECD teachers, while Garissa is approaching the 400 mark," Dr. Jillaow noted.
However, the DG emphasized that the real challenge lies beyond recruitment.
"Teacher management is a critical area that demands attention. We must ensure these teachers are not just present in classrooms but are effectively delivering quality education," he said.
The conference brought together education stakeholders to discuss sustainable strategies for improving ECD services nationwide, with particular focus on teacher welfare, professional development, and retention mechanisms.
As Kenya works towards universal access to quality early education, the experiences of these northern counties offer valuable lessons in both achievements and ongoing challenges facing the sector.