The Influence Of Early Childhood Education On The Learners School Achievement In The Selected Primary Schools Of Kajuki Zone, Meru South District Kenya

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the influence of early childhood education on

children's educational attainment. The following objectives guided

the study: to find out if when children participate in ECDE programs

will perform better in school. To find out whether by children

participating in the ECDE programs makes them better in language

and literacy, and to find out how those children who attended preschool

socially related better than those who did not and if the

parents of those children actively involved themselves in classroom

activities. It was carried out in Kajuki Zone, Meru South District of

Kenya. The respondents used in the study were teachers, parents

who filled a semi-structured questionnaire containing items which

had been formulated from the objectives and sample was selected

randomly. Findings showed that 53% of the teachers were in

agreement that those children who had attended pre-school were

better in the above mentioned aspects of performance. 31%

disagreed and 16% did not know. Findings in the study suggest that

65% of the teachers were in agreement that those children who had

attended preschool were better in reading skills than their

counterparts who were just beginning the task. This greatly

contributes to their academic progress. Also if a child can easily

express her/ his self then she/ he is most likely to grasp much in

class, relate healthily with other children. Recommendations were also made. Teachers need some formal training in early childhood education. This is because without the appropriate skills and knowledge the teachers can not effectively help the young child to develop appropriately for those ones in the field. The government of Kenya should be integrated in free primary education in order to attract parents, to take their children to ECD centers.