Kiambu County to Construct Swimming Pools for ECDE Schools
Kiambu County has unveiled plans to construct swimming pools in Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) schools, a move aimed at enhancing facilities in public institutions.
Governor Kimani Wamatangi shared the announcement on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, January 24, but did not disclose the project’s estimated cost.
He explained that the initiative would ensure children in public ECDE centers enjoy modern amenities, previously only available in private schools.
“I will categorize the ECDE centers managed by the county government into zones and ensure that each zone has its own swimming pool.
This will give children in public ECDE schools access to facilities that were once limited to private academies,” said Governor Wamatangi.
Kiambu County is administratively divided into 15 sub-counties, 33 divisions, 96 locations, and 245 sub-locations. The county is home to 524 public ECDE centers, with efforts underway to modernize infrastructure in these schools.
While the exact budget for the swimming pool project remains unclear, estimates indicate it could cost the county upwards of Ksh100 million if commercial-sized pools are constructed.
Based on available data, a standard-sized swimming pool measuring 12 meters by 6 meters costs approximately Ksh2.6 million to Ksh2.8 million.
However, larger pools, such as commercial-sized ones measuring 25 meters by 10 meters, can cost between Ksh5 million and Ksh20 million, depending on their size and complexity.
This announcement follows a series of education-related reforms spearheaded by Governor Wamatangi.
Last year, the county government began providing free exercise books and school uniforms to children in public ECDE centers, relieving parents of these costs.
The county also introduced a feeding program that supplies porridge daily to ECDE learners, supplemented with eggs on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and milk on other days.
In 2014, Kiambu County had 72,061 children enrolled in ECDE centers. Of these, 26,503 were in baby class, 35,648 in nursery, and 36,910 in pre-unit. This data highlights the scale of beneficiaries for such an ambitious project.
Despite its potential benefits, the proposal to build swimming pools may spark mixed reactions among residents.
Some critics may question the prioritization of such projects in a county grappling with challenges like high unemployment rates, water shortages, and malnutrition.
However, the initiative could signal a step toward improving the quality of education and early childhood development in the region.
By providing access to recreational and developmental facilities, the county aims to bridge the gap between public and private education systems, ensuring all children have access to equal opportunities.
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