Kyambogo University, Department of Early Childhood and Pre-Primary Education has today 20th February 2023 hosted a five-day conference on inclusive home-based early learning project (iHELP). The main goal of the project is to increase access to early childhood care education for rural and marginalized children. This project is being implemented in Kenya under Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Zimbabwe under the University of Zimbabwe and in Uganda under Kyambogo University.

While addressing the participants in a five-day conference, Prof. Godfrey Ejuu the Principal Investigator of the Project who is also the Head of the Department of Early Childhood and Pre- Primary Education at Kyambogo University, noted that iHELP research is a model that will certainly upscale early childhood learning and inclusive caregiving.  He also noted that the model was developed as a hybrid of home-based and centre-based nursery school models, which helps it to maximise the strengths of both models. So far from May 2021, 28 centres have been established in homes volunteered for that purpose by community members. Sixteen centres were opened in Uganda, with four in Kalungu, Buikwe, Kaliro and Kalaki respectively.

The other 6 centres are in Ikolomani sub-county, Kakamega district in Kenya and another 6 in Zimbabwe, with 3 in the Zaka district and 3 in the Bikia district located in Masvingo province. iHELP also integrates early learning with health by collaborating with health centres to provide deworming, vitamin A supplements and disability screening. In the centres, lessons are shared between teachers and parents. Teachers bring in nursery school-based learning for cognitive development in literacy and numeracy, while parents focus on socio-emotional learning, health, well-being, life skills and culture. One day a week is dedicated to free play managed by children who are appointed as leaders or young facilitators.

One of the caregivers playing with the children.
One of the caregivers playing with the children.

In the centres, lessons are shared between teachers and parents. Teachers bring in nursery school-based learning for cognitive development in literacy and numeracy, while parents focus on socio-emotional learning, health, well-being, life skills and culture. One day a week is dedicated to free play managed by children who are appointed as leaders or young facilitators. The centres are managed by a group of parents as a management committee who hire or fire the teachers based on their competencies to work for 2 days a week. The centres are run on voluntary basis with financial support from parents who participate in livelihood activities funded by their savings group.

Participants of the five-day conference on inclusive home based early learning project at Kyambogo University
Participants of the five-day conference on inclusive home-based early learning projects at Kyambogo University

Prof. Charles Mutai, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Planning, Research and Innovation at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kenya said that Early Childhood Education is important. And this Home based child learning lays a good foundation for children. He asked the management of Kyambogo University to advance the partnership and collaboration between Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kenya and Kyambogo University in other areas like research, science, and special needs education.