A Randomized Evaluation of the Effects of a Preschool Intervention on Child Learning and Female Economic Empowerment in Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya

The PP1 intervention consists of six main components: A. Expanding admission to 3-year-olds in the current preschools (they currently start at 4), B. Adapting the government curriculum to accommodate the 3-year-old children (as the curriculum currently starts at 4 years) C. Developing teacher activity guides to support curriculum implementation for both 3- and 4-year-olds, D. Providing developmentally appropriate teaching and learning materials (e.g. picture books, puzzles, games), E. Adding an extra teacher in the preschool class (PP1), and F. Training the teachers how to use the activity guides and learning materials and how to use evidence-based and developmentally-appropriate instructional strategies through teacher-training workshops and in-class coaching.

The experimental design involves a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) to assess the impact of the Tharaka Nithi County Preschool Program on child development and women's labor supply. The intervention targets 3-4-year-olds, utilizing the existing infrastructure of PP1 (pre-primary 1) in selected public schools.

Participants were recruited in 2 cohorts:

Cohort 1: Randomization will take place by computer following a census of eligible households (those with children 2y8mo-3y6mo at baseline who have expressed willingness to participate) within a radius of 3km from the 118 schools. Within the 3km catchment area of the schools 15 children will be selected and their families consented for the intervention and data collection. Following this, within the catchment group of the 60 treatment schools 5 children are randomly admitted to the treatment schools and another 5 are randomly selected as controls within the same communities. Within the catchment area of the control schools 5 children and their families are randomly selected for observation. Data is collected from the families (mother and father - when present), and the children (assessments) at baseline, midline, and at the end of the intervention. In addition, within each school (treatment and control) 5 4-year olds are recruited. They are also subject to the intervention, since they are in the same classrooms as the 3-year-olds. However, the non-treated 4-year-olds are still attending PP1 class but in a non-treated school.

Cohort 2: The same treatment and control schools are involved. Only 3 year olds are recruited (2y8mo-3y6mo at baseline). Investigators will identify the 5 closest consenting families with 3-year-olds to each of the treatment schools. If it is a treatment school, the 5 children are admitted to the PP1 in that school. The five children and their families in the radius of the control school are kept for observation. Consenting takes place before treatment status is revealed. Data is collected from the families (mother and father - when present), and the children (assessments) at baseline and at the end of the intervention.