What used to be called Nursery School is now described as ECDE: Early Childhood Development. There are very many nursery schools in the urban areas, of vastly varying quality. Several of them are really income generating projects, and some of them try to get development support by advertising that their pupils are AIDS orphans. Pandipieri Centre has had a nursery school from before the start of Kisumu Urban Apostolate: from 1976 when there were not yet many nursery schools in the area. Throughout the years the Pandipieri programme made big efforts to keep the quality of the nursery high and the cost low. Other nursery school were started in Dunga Centre and Bala Centre. Dunga and Bala Nursery were merged together and handed over to the community. Currently we have two nursery schools, one in Magadi Centre and the other in Pandipieri Centre.
Learning Programme
We use the Early Childhood development and Education Syllabus developed by the Kenya Institute of Education. Its divided into three levels: Level I (baby care) ; Children 3 years and below, Level II (Pre-Primary 1); Children aged four years; Level III (Pre-primary 2) Children aged five years. In order to address the changing needs and demands of our target group the syllabus has incorporated vital emerging issues eg child safety, protection, nutrition, growth and development as well as HIV and AIDS.
The syllabus has adopted thematic integrated approach. The themes are derived from things and situations that learners are likely to interact with in everyday life. Each theme cuts across all the activity areas and the learning is flexible. After learning in the ECD for 3 years the learners go for class 1 interview and are enrolled in primary schools in the community.
Activities
Identify and enrol about 160 children to access early childhood development and education annually
Promote an enhanced feeding programme to support children who come to school without breakfast and improve their nutritional diet.
Conduct guidance and counselling.
Referrals for malnourished children in the nutrition clinic
Advocate for improved shelter, child protection, nutrition, basic health care services for OVC households
Psychosocial support for caregivers and OVCs as well as Enhance OVC protection and families
Conduct community discussions and train caregivers of income generation to support OVCs
Enhance collaboration with childrens department and government line ministries
Referrals to other institutions for relevant services.
Target group
The children qualify for the programme if is between 3-6 years and living under difficult circumstances.
The ECD is realized through cost sharing system where the parents/guardians contribute towards some of the programme costs.
After three years of education the children are enrolled into the formal schools which are highly subsidized by the government through the free primary education programme.
