The Nairobi City County Government has reaffirmed its
commitment to providing quality early learning by co-creating a play-based
learning manual for Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) teachers.
This follows the successful conclusion of a high-impact
two-day Play-Based Learning Manual Development Workshop held in collaboration
with Big Win Philanthropy.
The workshop brought together leading education partners and
experts to translate the national Early Childhood Development (ECD)
curriculum’s vision into practical, classroom-based teaching strategies.
“This workshop focused on translating the ECD curriculum's
vision into practical classroom skills. Our responsibility is to ensure
participants successfully define the core components of a play-based programme
and develop a harmonised framework for training pre-primary teachers. We also
led the team to establish clear indicators to track the effectiveness of the
play-based curriculum implementation in schools,” said Brian Mulama, County
Executive for Talent, Skills and Care (TSC).
The initiative forms part of Nairobi City County’s ongoing
efforts to strengthen foundational learning through innovative and inclusive
teaching methods.
Play-based learning, an approach that uses play as a central
tool for cognitive, emotional, and social development, is recognised globally
as one of the most effective ways to foster holistic child growth and school
readiness.
This collaborative effort brought together a diverse team of
education stakeholders, including the African Population and Health Research
Centre (APHRC), EIDU, EDU, Teach for Kenya, DIGNITAS, and The Action
Foundation, alongside ECDE experts, teachers and facilitators.
“We are fully committed to supporting the Nairobi City
County Government to create a system that enables pre-primary teachers to
effectively deliver play-based learning as a pedagogical approach to fostering
child development and improved school readiness competences for learners,” said
Bridget Konadu Gyamfi, Senior Programme Director at Big Win Philanthropy.
According to participants, the outcomes of the workshop mark
a significant milestone in institutionalising play-based pedagogy within
Nairobi’s ECDE programmes.
The manual will provide teachers with structured guidance on
integrating play into everyday learning, ensuring lessons are both enjoyable
and developmentally appropriate.
“Once finalised and rolled out, this play-based learning
manual will be a critical tool in strengthening teacher capacity, promoting
inclusive education and ensuring every child begins their learning journey in a
joyful, stimulating and developmentally appropriate environment,” said Ruth
Owuor, Director of Education, Nairobi City County.
In his closing remarks, Mr Mulama commended the dedication
and collaboration demonstrated by all partners, reaffirming the County
Government’s commitment to ensuring that every child has access to quality,
inclusive, and engaging early learning experiences.
“Through this partnership and the development of this
manual, we are taking bold steps to reimagine how our youngest learners
experience education. Every child in Nairobi deserves the opportunity to learn
through play, to explore, and to grow in a supportive and nurturing
environment,” he said.
The County noted that once implemented, the manual will
serve as a model for scaling up play-based learning practices across Kenya’s
early learning ecosystem, aligning with the government’s broader goal of
improving education outcomes through innovation and child-centred teaching.
