Access implications of utilization of early childhood development community support grants in Eldoret municipality, Rift valley province, Kenya.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine Access Implications of Utilization of Community Support Grant (CSG) in Eldoret Municipality. The study adopted systems theory and the following objectives guided the study: find out the knowledge of the Centre Management Committee (CMC) in regard to utilization of Community Support Grant (CSG), to establish community involvement in the use of CSG, to establish the extent of professional support given by the Education Office to Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centres in utilization of the CSG and to examine the degree to which the CMC adhered to ECD Policy in utilization of CSG. A descriptive survey research design was adopted and systems theory was used. The study was carried out in Eldoret Municipality which had 42 public/community based ECD centres attached to primary schools. 29 centres were eligible for the CSG owing to the low socio-economic status of the communities. The 29 ECDE centres, therefore, formed the target population. This number necessitated the researcher to carry out a census inquiry. Each ECD centre had an executive committee of 5 members that comprised the head teacher, the ECDE teacher and 3 parent representatives totaling 145 from the 29 centres and formed the target population. Targeted also were 23 education officers. The 29 head teachers and 29 teachers in charge of ECD were purposely selected and subjected to questionnaires. From the 29 chairpersons representing each ECD centre 8 were selected and subjected to the interview guide. Interviewed also were 8 education officers giving a total of 74 respondents. Data was collected by use of questionnaires, interview guides and document analysis and was analyzed using frequency distribution, calculating the percentages and tabulating them. The study found out that 100%, had not been achieved because majority of the CMC members had low levels of education, the communities did not support Community Support Grant programme, the Quality Assurance and Standards Officers (QASO) were ignorant on the new ECDE Policy Standard Guidelines (2006) and finally, ECD policy guidelines were not adhered to in utilization of CSG. The study recommended a policy enumerating minimum requirements for the post of a Centre Management Committee, create awareness to the communities on importance of supporting ECDE projects, and build the capacity of QASOs on ECDE policy Standard Guidelines. The findings will be useful as feedback for policy makers to redesign other intervention measures to address the problem of low access to ECDE programmes.