INFLUENCE OF LEARNING ENVIRONMENT ON PROVISION OF QUALITY EDUCATION IN PUBLIC EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTRES IN WEST POKOT COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

International organizations such as UNICEF and UNESCO are stressing the importance of providing quality early childhood education and care to all children, not only for those from less-advantaged backgrounds but for all children. However, statistics from West Pokot County show that learners’ level of literacy and numeracy skills is low and this has largely been due to learning environment. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of learning environment on provision of quality education in public ECDE centres in West Pokot County, Kenya. The objectives of the study were; to investigate the influence of learning facilities on provision of quality education in public ECDE centres, to establish the influence of indoor learning environment on provision of quality education in public ECDE centres, to determine the influence of instructional learning resources on provision of quality education in public ECDE centres and to assess the influence of outdoor classroom environment on provision of quality education in public ECDE centres in West Pokot County, Kenya. The study was guided by constructivism theory which proposes that for quality learning to be achieved, the learning environment in classroom should be conducive for pupils. The study methodology incorporated qualitative and quantitative methods of research. This study took pragmatism as its philosophical paradigm. The study used a descriptive survey research design. The target population for the research involved 365 head teachers, 682 teachers and 4 early childhood education field officers. The sample size for the study was arrived at by taking 10-30% of the target population to act as the sample size that is 10% for head teachers and 30% for ECDE teachers. Non-probability purposive method of sampling was used to select DICECE officers while head teachers and ECDE teachers were selected through use of probability proportionate stratified random sampling method. The research instruments used were; questionnaires, interview guides and observation checklists. All research instruments were tested for content validity and test retest technique for reliability. Data collected were analysed using qualitative and quantitative methods. Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviation and Pearson correlations testing at 0.01 (99%) significant level. Statistical Package for Social Science (Version 20.0) helped in coding, entry and analysis. Qualitative data was analysed using content analysis method. Analysed data was presented in tables and narrations. The study found out that provision of quality education was at average level (M=2.87 and SD=1.13). There existed significant relationship between learning facilities, indoor classroom environment setting, learning resources and outdoor learning environment and provision of quality education. The study concluded that learning environment was critical factor influencing provision of quality education for ECDE pupils in West Pokot County public centres. The study recommends that a stakeholder approach (involvement of teachers, parents and head teachers) should be utilised to ensure that learning environment in ECDE classroom is safe and secure. Teachers need to improvise locally available materials to improve on classroom learning environment. It is expected that the results of the study will be beneficial to stakeholders in early childhood education.