Quality of Early Learning Opportunities in Early Childhood Development Centres in Kiambaa Sub-County, Kenya

This study evaluated the quality of early learning opportunities in Kiambaa sub-county, Kiambu County. The study was guided by Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory and adopted a descriptive research design with a mixed-methods approach. The target population was caregivers and managers from across 18 ECDE centres. The centres were selected through stratified sampling (public and private), while participants were selected through simple random sampling. The study found the overall quality of early learning opportunities within Kiambaa sub-county to be moderate (M = 3.36; SD = 0.662). The centres were found to be efficient in the creation of gender-inclusive learning opportunities and an age-appropriate curriculum, as well as in conducting regular assessments that contribute to enhanced quality of learning. However, the study found that lower teacher-student ratios, inadequate instructional materials, limited resources for children with special needs, and inadequate physical facilities contributed to reduced learning quality. The findings indicate that while ECDE centers have made progress in curriculum implementation, gaps in resources and infrastructure persist and affect the quality of learning. The study recommends that county governments and relevant stakeholders allocate more resources to create child-friendly learning environments and deploy more teachers to enhance the quality of early learning opportunities.