County Government of Kirinyaga is set to roll out digital learning programme for all its Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) learners next year.

The programme which is meant to prepare the children for a tech-driven future will be piloted in five schools before being expanded to more centres.

Ahead of the roll out, the county is training all its 401 ECDE teachers to equip them with essential Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills for the digital learning in all the 200 ECDE centres in the county.

The two-week training programme, unveiled on Monday at Kiamikuyu Polytechnic, will equip the teachers with skills on ICT integration, digital literacy, Competency-Based Curriculum teaching methods and curriculum unpacking.

Governor Anne Waiguru said the digital learning initiative will benefit about 16,398 learners across the county.

“We have consistently replaced exiting ECDE teachers, equipped them with CBC-aligned teaching aids, and offered refresher courses, boosting classroom engagement and improving learner outcomes,” said Waiguru.

The Governor said select schools have been equipped with ICT devices and digital tools for preparing learners for a tech-driven future and bridging the digital divide.

Deputy Governor David Githanda, who presided over the opening of the training programme on behalf of Governor Waiguru, said the county is restructuring foundational learning to align with global standards.

“This training marks a big milestone for every child in Kirinyaga,” he said while delivering the Governor’s speech. “ECDE teachers shape the character, confidence and development of a child. That is why this programme covers all teachers, without exception.”

He added that the county has already strengthened the welfare of ECDE personnel to ensure stability and professionalism.

“We reviewed their contracts and made them permanent and pensionable. We increased their salaries and invested in digital learning devices. This is an intense programme, and we shall support you fully,” Githanda added.

Acting Education County Executive Committee Member Millicent Ngari said the training acknowledges the central role ECDE teachers play in behaviour formation and early cognitive development.

“Digital learning is a huge milestone for us. We want teachers equipped with skills that reflect the realities of modern classrooms and the expectations of the new curriculum,” she said.

Ministry of Education representative, Martin Kungania welcomed the county’s move, saying digital literacy is now a core competency in ongoing national education reforms.

“We acknowledge the idea of ICT integration in ECDE. This training will help teachers meet the growing demand for digital competence in early learning, a key objective under national education reforms,” Kungania said

Kenya National Commission for UNESCO (KNATCOM) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. David Njogu praised Kirinyaga for pioneering the first structured digital training programme for ECDE teachers in the country.

“Kirinyaga is the first to organise such a comprehensive programme. Digital learning is an important foundation for young children. Building teacher capacity in digital technology ensures we use these tools effectively in early learning.” he said

Teachers attending the training described the initiative as timely and transformative.

Simon Kariuki, a teacher from Raimu ECDE centre, said the initiative will significantly boost teacher – student interaction and will help boost class attendance.

“We are privileged to be part of this programme. It will help us navigate ICT matters better. We promise that the ICT gadgets provided will be fully utilised for the benefit of the children,” he said.

Winnie Wairimu from Kimbimbi ECDE centre noted that the training will improve the quality of teaching and also provide teachers with easily available teaching for faster delivery of the curriculum.

“We are very happy. Sometimes we struggle using our phones and the content is not clear. This training will help us a lot. This initiative by our Governor will really boost ECDE learning,” she noted.

The programme is being implemented in partnership with KNATCOM, the Ministry of Education, Zizi Afrique Foundation and Ollin Sacco.