Causes of Poor Performance in Early Childhood Development and Education Children in Standard One Entry Exam in Makindu Division, Kibwezi District.

Abstract. The purpose of the study was to evaluate and strengthen ECDE performance in standard one entry exam in Makindu Division, Kibwezi District. It was hypothesis that poor performance in ECDE centers was as a result of un effective use of new teaching methodologies in ECDE centers, lack of enough trained personnel for teaching and running the ECDE centers and also lack of adequate teaching resources in ECDE centers. The study was conducted utilizing a sample of ten (10) ECDE centers in Makindu division. The sample comprised of both public and private ECDE centers. All the teachers from the ten (1 0) ECDE centers were used in the study. The study employed a descriptive survey research design and use of questionnaires, an interview schedule and an observation schedule for data collection. Analysis of variance was conducted using means of percentages and report using frequency distributions and tables. It was established that new teaching methodologies and teaching resources be adopted to improve ECDE performance. Finally, suggestions for further study were made to cover a large sample. The study also noted that there are other factors that affect ECDE and lead to low and discouraging performance in curriculum activities. Such factors include: (i) Lack of awareness of the importance of early child hood education in parents and guardians. The parents in the locality keep their children at home until they are over age and instead of bringing the children to ECDE center, they prefer taking them strait to standard one.