Leaners in Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) in four schools Kwabwai Ward are set to benefit from improved learning conditions following the commissioning of new classrooms and sanitation facilities supported by ActionAid Kenya.
The organisation has officially launched three ECDE classrooms at Nyarandi Comprehensive School, Abura Comprehensive School, and Ngere Kwabwai School. It also commissioned a five-door ablution block at Got Adundo Comprehensive School. The facilities are intended to provide safe, child-friendly, and weather-resilient learning environments for young learners.
The initiative aims to address long-standing challenges faced by ECDE pupils, including exposure to harsh weather conditions, inadequate sanitation, and unsafe temporary learning structures that have previously affected attendance and learning continuity.
Teachers welcomed the development, saying the new infrastructure will significantly improve the learning experience for young children.
“Previously, ECDE learners studied in poorly constructed structures exposed to cold and dust during rainy and windy seasons,” said Mr Charles Makombe, Head of Institution at Nyarandi Comprehensive School. “This new classroom will protect them from such conditions and reduce cases of respiratory infections, allowing children to learn more comfortably and consistently.”
Parents also expressed optimism that the improved facilities will boost enrollment and retention of young learners in school.
“As parents, we are now assured of our children’s safety and well-being while at school,” said Evaline Akoth, a parent from Abura Comprehensive School. “This will motivate many of us to enroll our children earlier in ECDE, giving them a strong educational foundation.”
Learners also shared their excitement about the new facilities, saying they feel more comfortable and motivated to attend school. At Got Adundo Comprehensive School, pupils welcomed the improved sanitation infrastructure.
“We are happy to have good ablution blocks where we can easily use and also a changing room for girls,” said the student president at the school.
Early Year Education (EYE) Dhiwa Subcounty Supervisor Cornela Ouno noted that the new facilities will have a direct impact on learning outcomes and school participation.
“These developments will go a long way in strengthening ECDE delivery in the subcounty,” said Cornela Ouno. “Improved classrooms and sanitation facilities mean better attendance, fewer illness-related absences, and a more stable learning environment for our young learners. This is a major step toward building strong educational foundations.”
The five-door ablution block at Got Adundo Comprehensive School is expected to significantly improve hygiene standards, particularly for young children who are most vulnerable to sanitation-related illnesses.
Speaking on the development, Euphemia Odero, Local Rights Programme Coordinator at ActionAid Kenya, said:
“The commissioning of new classrooms at Nyarandi, Abura, and Ngere Kwabwai schools, alongside improved sanitation facilities at Got Adundo Comprehensive School, represents an important step toward addressing long-standing challenges that have affected young learners, including exposure to harsh weather and inadequate hygiene infrastructure. We believe that investing in child-friendly and resilient infrastructure is central to strengthening learning outcomes, and we remain committed to working with communities and partners to expand such initiatives so that every child can learn in an environment that supports their health, dignity, and potential.”
According to ActionAid Kenya, the project forms part of a broader effort to strengthen learning environments for ECDE learners and promote child-friendly infrastructure. The organisation noted that quality infrastructure plays a critical role in improving educational outcomes and safeguarding children’s health.
It further stated that the newly constructed facilities are intended to serve as model structures for education stakeholders, demonstrating practical examples of safe, inclusive, and child-friendly learning environments. The organisation hopes this approach will encourage government agencies, partners, and communities to replicate similar interventions in other schools.
Education stakeholders in the area said the improved facilities are expected to reduce health risks, promote proper hygiene practices, and eliminate hazards previously associated with temporary and poorly constructed sanitation structures.
Local leaders who attended the commissioning ceremony called for similar initiatives to be expanded across the region, highlighting the importance of collaboration in strengthening the education sector.
With the new classrooms and improved sanitation facilities in place, the schools are expected to record increased enrollment, improved attendance, and better learning outcomes, marking a significant step toward strengthening foundational education in Kwabwai Ward, Homabay County
Author: Ezra Kiriago ,Communications Coordinator ActionAid Kenya.