Exploring Early Childhood Development Programming in Kenya's Arid and Semi-Arid Lands
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| Title: | Exploring Early Childhood Development Programming in Kenya's Arid and Semi-Arid Lands |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Phyllis Magoma (ORCID |
| Source: | South African Journal of Childhood Education. 2025 15(1). |
| Availability: | AOSIS. 15 Oxford Street, Durbanville, Cape Town, 7550 South Africa. Tel: +27-21-975-2602; Fax: +27-21-975-4635; e-mail: publishing@aosis.co.za; Web site: https://sajce.co.za/index.php/sajce |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 12 |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Early Childhood Education Preschool Education |
| Descriptors: | Early Childhood Education, Equal Education, Child Development, Well Being, Educational Quality, Disadvantaged, Rural Areas, Barriers, Access to Education, Preschool Teachers, Teacher Attitudes, Educational Finance, Parent Attitudes, Health Personnel, Clergy, Program Effectiveness, Health Services, Risk, Foreign Countries |
| Geographic Terms: | Kenya |
| ISSN: | 2223-7674 2223-7682 |
| Abstract: | Background: Promoting high-quality early childhood development (ECD) is vital for individuals' physical and social well-being and yields significant societal returns. However, children in marginalised regions like Kenya's arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) face significant barriers to accessing quality ECD services. Aim: This study aimed to document existing ECD services in Kenya's ASAL areas, including their availability, types and key characteristics; identify gaps in their provision and propose solutions to enhance access and quality. Setting: This qualitative study was conducted in 10 ASAL counties in Kenya. Methods: Using purposive and snowball sampling techniques, 103 key informants, including pre-primary teachers, parents, healthcare workers, religious leaders and county ECD coordinators, were interviewed. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. Results: The study found that while diverse ECD programmes exist in ASAL regions, their quality and effectiveness are hindered by challenges such as inadequate funding, insecurity, extreme weather events, food insecurity, poor infrastructure, inadequate healthcare access and limited early learning opportunities. Recommendations include increasing ECD funding, improving healthcare, enhancing early learning opportunities, promoting livelihood diversification and addressing security and food insecurity. Conclusion: Despite investments in ECD programmes, significant challenges persist, underscoring the need to provide children with high-quality services that foster nurturing care and mitigate risks to their development. This study highlights the urgency of adopting a multi-sectoral approach to strengthen ECD programmes and services in Kenya's ASAL. Contribution: This article contributes to the scarce literature on ECD programming in Kenya's ASALs by documenting existing ECD services, identifying critical gaps in their provision and offering actionable recommendations to address barriers to programme quality and effectiveness. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2025 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1479698 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 CustomLinks: – Url: https://eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=EJ1479698 Name: ERIC Full Text Category: fullText Text: Full Text from ERIC |
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| Header | DbId: eric DbLabel: ERIC An: EJ1479698 AccessLevel: 3 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Exploring Early Childhood Development Programming in Kenya's Arid and Semi-Arid Lands – Name: Language Label: Language Group: Lang Data: English – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Phyllis+Magoma%22">Phyllis Magoma</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5420-4242">0000-0001-5420-4242</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Amina+Abubakar%22">Amina Abubakar</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3686-7904">0000-0002-3686-7904</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Martha+Kaniala%22">Martha Kaniala</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0007-8467-9071">0009-0007-8467-9071</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Barack+Aoko%22">Barack Aoko</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0006-9474-4255">0009-0006-9474-4255</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Moses+Esala%22">Moses Esala</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7978-5854">0009-0008-7978-5854</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Joyce+Marangu%22">Joyce Marangu</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0287-5551">0000-0002-0287-5551</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Susan+Nyamanya%22">Susan Nyamanya</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0004-3504-7041">0009-0004-3504-7041</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Margaret+Kabue%22">Margaret Kabue</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1138-3030">0000-0002-1138-3030</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Siad+Guyo%22">Siad Guyo</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0000-5041-8614">0009-0000-5041-8614</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Abubakar+Baasba%22">Abubakar Baasba</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0009-8232-3842">0009-0009-8232-3842</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22John+Ng%27asike%22">John Ng’asike</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0669-7964">0000-0003-0669-7964</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Anil+Khamis%22">Anil Khamis</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5197-1249">0009-0009-5197-1249</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Esther+Jebor+Chongwo%22">Esther Jebor Chongwo</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5091-2361">0000-0002-5091-2361</externalLink>) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22South+African+Journal+of+Childhood+Education%22"><i>South African Journal of Childhood Education</i></searchLink>. 2025 15(1). – Name: Avail Label: Availability Group: Avail Data: AOSIS. 15 Oxford Street, Durbanville, Cape Town, 7550 South Africa. Tel: +27-21-975-2602; Fax: +27-21-975-4635; e-mail: publishing@aosis.co.za; Web site: https://sajce.co.za/index.php/sajce – Name: PeerReviewed Label: Peer Reviewed Group: SrcInfo Data: Y – Name: Pages Label: Page Count Group: Src Data: 12 – Name: DatePubCY Label: Publication Date Group: Date Data: 2025 – Name: TypeDocument Label: Document Type Group: TypDoc Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research – Name: Audience Label: Education Level Group: Audnce Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Early+Childhood+Education%22">Early Childhood Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Preschool+Education%22">Preschool Education</searchLink> – Name: Subject Label: Descriptors Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Early+Childhood+Education%22">Early Childhood Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Equal+Education%22">Equal Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Child+Development%22">Child Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Well+Being%22">Well Being</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Quality%22">Educational Quality</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Disadvantaged%22">Disadvantaged</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Rural+Areas%22">Rural Areas</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Barriers%22">Barriers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Access+to+Education%22">Access to Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Preschool+Teachers%22">Preschool Teachers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+Attitudes%22">Teacher Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Finance%22">Educational Finance</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Parent+Attitudes%22">Parent Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Health+Personnel%22">Health Personnel</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Clergy%22">Clergy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Program+Effectiveness%22">Program Effectiveness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Health+Services%22">Health Services</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Risk%22">Risk</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink> – Name: Subject Label: Geographic Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Kenya%22">Kenya</searchLink> – Name: ISSN Label: ISSN Group: ISSN Data: 2223-7674<br />2223-7682 – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Background: Promoting high-quality early childhood development (ECD) is vital for individuals' physical and social well-being and yields significant societal returns. However, children in marginalised regions like Kenya's arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) face significant barriers to accessing quality ECD services. Aim: This study aimed to document existing ECD services in Kenya's ASAL areas, including their availability, types and key characteristics; identify gaps in their provision and propose solutions to enhance access and quality. Setting: This qualitative study was conducted in 10 ASAL counties in Kenya. Methods: Using purposive and snowball sampling techniques, 103 key informants, including pre-primary teachers, parents, healthcare workers, religious leaders and county ECD coordinators, were interviewed. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. Results: The study found that while diverse ECD programmes exist in ASAL regions, their quality and effectiveness are hindered by challenges such as inadequate funding, insecurity, extreme weather events, food insecurity, poor infrastructure, inadequate healthcare access and limited early learning opportunities. Recommendations include increasing ECD funding, improving healthcare, enhancing early learning opportunities, promoting livelihood diversification and addressing security and food insecurity. Conclusion: Despite investments in ECD programmes, significant challenges persist, underscoring the need to provide children with high-quality services that foster nurturing care and mitigate risks to their development. This study highlights the urgency of adopting a multi-sectoral approach to strengthen ECD programmes and services in Kenya's ASAL. Contribution: This article contributes to the scarce literature on ECD programming in Kenya's ASALs by documenting existing ECD services, identifying critical gaps in their provision and offering actionable recommendations to address barriers to programme quality and effectiveness. – Name: AbstractInfo Label: Abstractor Group: Ab Data: As Provided – Name: DateEntry Label: Entry Date Group: Date Data: 2025 – Name: AN Label: Accession Number Group: ID Data: EJ1479698 |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1479698 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Languages: – Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 12 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Early Childhood Education Type: general – SubjectFull: Equal Education Type: general – SubjectFull: Child Development Type: general – SubjectFull: Well Being Type: general – SubjectFull: Educational Quality Type: general – SubjectFull: Disadvantaged Type: general – SubjectFull: Rural Areas Type: general – SubjectFull: Barriers Type: general – SubjectFull: Access to Education Type: general – SubjectFull: Preschool Teachers Type: general – SubjectFull: Teacher Attitudes Type: general – SubjectFull: Educational Finance Type: general – SubjectFull: Parent Attitudes Type: general – SubjectFull: Health Personnel Type: general – SubjectFull: Clergy Type: general – SubjectFull: Program Effectiveness Type: general – SubjectFull: Health Services Type: general – SubjectFull: Risk Type: general – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries Type: general – SubjectFull: Kenya Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Exploring Early Childhood Development Programming in Kenya's Arid and Semi-Arid Lands Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Phyllis Magoma – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Amina Abubakar – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Martha Kaniala – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Barack Aoko – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Moses Esala – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Joyce Marangu – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Susan Nyamanya – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Margaret Kabue – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Siad Guyo – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Abubakar Baasba – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: John Ng’asike – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Anil Khamis – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Esther Jebor Chongwo IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 01 Type: published Y: 2025 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 2223-7674 – Type: issn-electronic Value: 2223-7682 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 15 – Type: issue Value: 1 Titles: – TitleFull: South African Journal of Childhood Education Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
