ASSESSMENT OF USE OF TEACHING AND LEARNING RESOURCES FOR EFFECTIVE INDOOR AND OUTDOOR PLAY ACTIVITIES IN ECDE CENTRES IN TINDERET SUB-COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

The value of play lies in the opportunities it provides children to develop social, intellectual, emotional and physical skills needed for survival. The current changes in the education sector have encouraged stiff competition among institutions of learning including pre-schools all over the country. Pre-school teachers have therefore been put to task to ensure that the academic work of the pre-school children is given priority. This has made the teachers to pay a lot of attention to the academic other than play activities which should take a centre stage at pre-school learning. The purpose of this study was to assess the use of resources for teaching and learning of indoor and outdoor play activities in pre-schools in Tinderet Sub County. The objectives of the study were to; Investigate the availability of resources and their use for indoor and outdoor play activities, to assess the perceptions of teachers, parents and caregivers towards adequacy and use of teaching learning resources, to investigate the storage and maintenance of resources and to identify the challenges faced by pre-schools in the acquisition and maintenance of teaching and learning resources for indoor and outdoor play activities in ECDE centres in Tinderet Sub County. The study adapted a descriptive survey research design. The target population constituted of 107 pre-schools, 236 teachers and 1391 parents. A sample size equivalent to 30% of the population that is 33 pre-schools, 99 teachers and 99 pre-school parents’ representatives was drawn using both stratified and simple random sampling method. The instruments- questionnaires and the observation schedule were piloted in three pre-schools in the same sub-county. Reliability of the instruments was determined using split-half method of Spearman Brown Prophesy formula that yielded a Spearman’s- Brown reliability coefficient of 0.852 for teacher’s questionnaire and 0.76 for parent’s questionnaire. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentages through the aid of SPSS programme. The analysis was presented using statistical tables and charts. The findings of the study indicated that majority of the ECDE centres in the sub-county did not have adequate resources for teaching and learning hampering effective play activities. There were limited resources particularly those for outdoor play activities. It was also established that most of the ECDE centres lacked an appropriate maintenance and storage facility for the resources and this had an effect on the use of play resources. The study found that parents were not sure of the resources available at the ECDE centres a factor that contributed to the inadequacy of resources for play activities. The study concluded that teaching and learning at most of the centres was not appropriate for the pupils since they lacked necessary resources for play activities. The recommendations were; there is need for the stakeholders to collaborate in the provision of resources so that the learners can benefit through play and that a similar study covering the entire county to be conducted to establish the true picture of the adequacy of the teaching and learning resources for effective child development.