FACTORS AFFECTING MANAGEMENT OF EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT CENTERS IN KILGORIS DIVISION, TRANSMARA WEST DISTRICT, NAROK COUNTY KENYA

Abstract

Evidence of the importance of Early Childhood Development (ECD) has prompted many countries to exhibit clear awareness of the need to embrace Early Childhood Development within Government policy and legislative framework. Despite the global campaigns on Education for All, and related declarations of children’s rights, early childhood development programmes are still poorly managed. Disparities exist between private and public Early Childhood Development centers in terms of management styles and curriculum delivery. These variations in management of these centers portray major weaknesses, which need urgent attention in order to ensure effective and efficient development of quality Early childhood development programmes in Kilgoris division, Transmara west district(Sub-County), Narok County. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the factors affecting the management of Early Childhood Development centers in Kilgoris division, Transmara west district(Sub-County), Narok County. The study was guided by the following objectives; to find out the types of leadership styles depicted by head teachers of Early Childhood Education (ECE) centers, find out the challenges head teachers face as they run the Early Childhood Development centers and to establish the role of parents in the management of ECD centers. The study utilized a descriptive survey design to address the challenges head teachers of ECD centers face in the management of the centers. The target population constituted 57 Early Childhood Development centers in Kilgoris Division with a population of 114 teachers, 57 head teachers and 57 parents’ representatives totaling to 228. The study used a sample of 171 respondents selected using both purposive and simple random sampling methods. The study used a questionnaire and an interview schedule as data collection instruments. The instruments were tested for reliability, where by the teachers’ questionnaire gave a reliability coefficient of 0.88, the head teachers’ questionnaire had a reliability of 0.79 while, the parents’ questionnaire had a reliability of 0.78. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics of mean, frequencies and percentages. It was presented using tables and charts. From the results the study concludes that the factors affecting the management of Early Childhood Development centers in Kilgoris division are related to lack of parental involvement in the management of the centers, leadership styles of the head teachers were also a factor affecting the management of the centers in the division, the teachers and the parents both indicated that the leadership was not very satisfactory particularly in decision making. The study also concludes that the centers are faced with financial challenges which affect their effective management, lack of human resources in terms of teachers and lack of facilities to support the management of the centers. The study has noted that parent’s involvement is very minimal and no clear explanation has been given apart from speculation of their level of education, there is therefore need for a comparative study to establish the role of parent’s level of education in involvement of the education matters of their children.