Kilifi leaders are calling on both the County and national governments to make sure the Sh200 Million learning project, the “Kilifi Resource Centre is operational.
The institution was formerly known as “Kilifi DICECE” faces closure after the government removed the certificate course in ECDE teachers by increasing the intake marks from D+ to C plain forcing students with marks below C to find alternative ways in pursuing their career.
Led by Kilifi county Woman Representative Gertrude Mbeyu Mwanyanje, the leaders said the facility was built using taxpayers’ money after seeing the need for it to be in operation after the closure of such institutions in Kwale and Mombasa respectively.
She said as the only institution so far remaining which was offering ECDE certificate courses, it can be changed to be Kilifi teachers training college and change its courses but to continue operational than be closed and lose the taxpayers money.
The leaders spoke at the institution found in Kibarani in Kilifi town during the 34th and the last graduation ceremony for certificate courses for ECDE teachers in Kilifi County and the republic at large.
Ms Mwanyanje said it will be regrettable for leaders to ignore the only learning institution in the area so far which it’s intake is from all over the Coast region be closed forcing youth to be congested in the remaining Shanzu teachers college.
“This is my baby project. I personally built this institution after seeing the need when I was the area MCA from 2013 to 2017 after several years of seeking learning accommodation at Kilifi Township and other areas for many years,” said Mwanyanje.
She said if she will have to face the education Cabinet Secretary Professor George Magoha for the institution to be elevated to a teachers training college following the directives that intake marks for ECDE teachers is C instead of D+, she will.
She was reacting to words from the Chief Principal of the college Mr Ntondwe Walakisa who called for the leaders’ intervention to save the college from closure or it becomes a white elephant in the area.
The area MCA John Mwamtsi agreed with his predecessor and confirmed will table a motion in the County assembly and seek support from other members that they save the institution from being closed.
He said as leaders, they will bring on board all the stakeholders in education at the County level to save the institution and called on Ms Mwanyanje to do the same in the national assembly since the continuity of the institution is a milestone to leaders and achievement to the community.
The director ECDE Kilifi County Government Mr Donald Kahindi called on those who graduated to be innovative and change in the competitive world rather than waiting for the Ministry to reverse its stand over the intake marks if they want to further their career.
“Today is the end of certificate courses for ECDE teachers but on the other hand the opening door of diploma courses which has a higher starting salary scale for you, as pioneer students make sure you immediately enroll for the diploma course to be on the upper hand,” Said Kahindi.
He reminded the graduates to accept the fact that the learning system is phasing out from that of the 8-4-4 and the government is replacing it with the new curriculum of 2-6-6-3 to accept and embrace it for their positive survival in the teaching career.
Also present was the examination officer Kilifi County Mr Omar Mote who called for the graduates to be more innovative adding that today’s world will only favor those who are creative enough not those who will complain the most.
The area principal Mr Walakisa had earlier told the leaders that the institution was on its deathbed that if they will not be strong enough to save it, it will die like Kwale and Mombasa that died many years ago.
He said that one of the reasons why the School faces closure is that the County Government of Kilifi does not want to recognize diploma teachers who should be employed to teach in the institution.
“If only my teachers can be employed by the County, they could teach but those that used to help me will have no other choice but be forced to go back to teaching ECDE students, leaders, the ball is in your court,” Said Walakisa.
He said since the opening of the institution, he has not received any support from the County government thus making it difficult for the School to sustain its operations despite the fact that it is of great importance to society and called on the government to set aside capitation to the institute.
