The department is composed of two directorates: ECDE and Quality Assurance and Standards.

Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) is defined as the Period from birth to eight years. This is a time of remarkable holistic growth i.e. Physical, Mental, emotional, Social as well as language growth and development. This early years of life lay foundation for subsequent learning and development.  It is therefore very important investing in early leaning for better productive generation in the future through advocacy for Early Childhood Education and care programs that attend to education, health, Nutrition and safety of young children. Education is the backbone of development, the county government realizes that the measures put in place will stimulate knowledge and drive the county towards greater developments. The County Government of Mandera through the Sector of Education has the responsibility of promoting and coordinating the human capital development of the county through technical training, skills development and promotion of welfare of the child and the less advantaged members of the society.

The Directorate of Quality Assurance and Standards provides quality assurance services in Early Childhood Development Education and Vocational Training Centers under the County Government. It also establishes, maintains and improves educational standard by conducting research for local solutions and standard assessment. The Directorate feeds the ministry with data and information for decision making and planning.

VISION

To provide a catalytic environment for the provision of quality services for a holistic education, and ECDE activities to foster growth and development that is nationally competitive and sustainable.

MISSION

To improve quality founded on values such as honesty, co-operation, Commitment and trust at the most crucial period of human growth and development.

PRE- PRIMARY

The objective of pre- primary education hitherto know as Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) is to lay the foundation for holistic development and behavior standards of individuals acceptable to the society through imparting knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary for individual and national development.

Imparting of such knowledge and skills is facilitated by play/learning activities provided at the pre -primary centers guided by competency based curriculum developed by Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) now being rolled in the County. Early Childhood covers the early years of human life between zero to eight (8) years and is generally divided into: –

• The period below three years of age
• Pre Primary age that is from 4 and 5-year-old.
• Lower Primary years between 6 – 8 years.

STAFFING

Mandera County Public Service Board has recruited another extra 438 ECDE teachers to curb the shortage of teachers in the county. Those teachers were deployed to different ECDE centers in the county to discharge their duties. This was a strategic plan by the County to improve the Quality of Early Childhood Development Education in the County. Among those teachers were University graduates, Diploma and Certificate holders in ECDE.

This is a significant achievement that made Mandera County one of the best counties in the entire country in terms of ECDE services. As per our records, the total number of ECDE teachers is 823 and the number of learners is 27500.

SCHOOL MEALS PROGRAMME (SMP)

The County Government through the Ministry of Education has dispatched School Meal Programs to 328 ECDE Centers with breakfast. This will boast the nutritional status to enhance enrollment.

The department of TVET headed by Director Vocational Education and Training; assisted by Assistant Director. We have 37 instructors employed by the county Government on permanent and pensionable terms working in different Vocational training Centres. We also have 35 support staff in our Vocational training centres under Board of Management paid through operation fund from the County Government.

Vocational training centers are basic technical Education institutions intended to offer school leavers, both from primary and secondary schools, opportunity to acquire quality knowledge and skills for gainful employment. They also equip the youth with entrepreneurial skill based on appropriate technology enabling them utilize locally available resources for employment creation. Vocational training centers act as venues to attain higher education through technical and vocational education system. The Vocational training Centres are funded by the County Government of Mandera. The centres use to receive grant from state department of TVET, but the funding stopped in the financial year 2020-2021.

The County has seven working Vocational training centers namely, Mandera Vocational Training Center, Takaba Vocational Training Center,,Rhamu Vocational Training Center, Elwak Vocational Training Center, Banissa Vocational Training Center Fino Vocational Training Center and RhamoDimtuVoactional training Centre. Before the inception of the County Government, only two Vocational Training Centres was working, that is Mandera Vocational Training Center and Takaba Vocational Training Center.

The department organized a graduation for four VTCs namely Mandera VTC, Takaba VTC, Elwak VTC and Rhamu VTC where a total of 453 trainees graduated. The graduates were issued with star up kit in the different skill areas. The department also distributed seventeen sewing machines to trainees at Nurul Islam where the centre was hosting/training student in tailoring. The ceremony was graced by Chief Officer Technical and Vocational Education and Training and Director VET.

The department also organized training of trainers in practical industry for instructors from our VTCs in Meru County at Meru Naional Polytechnic for a period of two weeks. The opening ceremony was graced by CEC Education and Director VET.  The programe was conducted by Mandera County in collaboration with GIZ. The programme has transformed the skill gab in our instructor in VTCs.

The department undertakes the following acitivites:

• Deals with  Human resource matters.
• Undertakes delegated authority of the County Public Service Board to deal with Human Resource Deployment, discipline, and Development issues in the Department.
• Assists in reviewing, developing and implementing policies, legislations and regulations that will guide human capital development in the county.
• Research, document and disseminate human capital development opportunities for county staff and residents.
• In collaboration with CPSB and Public Service Management department, develops an M&E system to assess departmental investment in human capital development.
• Establishes & manages a properly equipped Human Capital Training Centre.
• Seeks  partnerships with technology companies such as Google, IBM and others to provide training programmes (virtual or in-person) for county staff, unemployed graduates and youth.
• Develops a training programme for out-of-school children (OOS) and adults who wish to complete their basic education.
• Organises technology booth camps for secondary school students in partnership with the ICT department.
• Invests in basic education infrastructure in partnership with the national government and development partners.
• Mapping of learning institutions in the county.
• Oversees and support the “Elimu Kwa Wote” Initiative in collaboration with the Mandera County Education Bursary Board.
• In collaboration with the ICT department, operates the Mandera County Education Management Information System (M-CEMIS)
• Seeks scholarships for bright students from Mandera County in universities and technical colleges in Kenya and overseas.
• Establishes a “Fees For Work’’ scholarship scheme for qualified students to support literacy programmes in primary schools.
• In Liaison with the relevant national government entities and training providers, develops untrained teachers’ training and placement schemes within the county.
• In partnership with the national government, NG-CDF and development partners,  invests in secondary schools identified as centres of excellence

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