Early childhood development body mooted
Research has indicated that early childhood education benefits not only individuals, but the socioeconomic stance of the country, among others.
Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mabuse Pule said at the Early Childhood Development ( ECD) Pitso in Palapye that emphasis on early education and stimulation is one strategy to alleviate substance abuse and criminal behaviour that plagues many adolescents and young adults today. Pule said at the Pitso that set out to reflect on the progress of early childhood development in Botswana and map a way forward for ECD that it is important for ECD to be recognised as the foundation for sustainable development. “It has been observed that inequalities begin in the first days of life and widens over time,” Pule said, adding that by the time they reach school, disadvantaged children have accumulated learning deficits, which have long- term consequences on their life chances later. “This is why governments must strive to close the inequality gap right from the early days,” he said. Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development spokesperson, Masego Ramakgathi told Botswana Guardian that challenges plaguing early childhood development in the country include mushrooming of illegal centres, particularly in urban and semi urban areas and non- compliance to policy standards especially overcrowding of children in some centres. “The current national access rate for early childhood care and education services in Botswana is about 43 per cent for the two to five year olds, which indicates significant progress made over the past years.” He explained that there has been immense improvement in implementation of early childhood development in Botswana. Ramakgathi explains that there are opportunities that they can grasp to advance the quality of early childhood development in Botswana. He notes that there is an opportunity for strengthening Public- Private Partnerships in early childhood development for financial and technical support. Ramakgathi explained that another opportunity that all stakeholders in early childhood development can grasp is the engagement of fathers as champions for Early Childhood Development. Ramakgathi said the pitso was able to come up with resolutions aimed at improving and integrating the implementation of the early childhood development agenda through informed decision making within and outside Government. Among the resolutions, a National Early Childhood Development Body should be established to regulate its programmes. Also early identification and intervention for children with special needs should be intensified throughout the nation. “Effective family and parenting programmes should be developed to improve ECD impact,” he said, adding that parents should be involved in integration of culture in early childhood development. Ramakgathi said moving forward, an implementation plan will be developed for the recommendations. Districts will also conduct their own ECD Pitsos after the second Regional Pitso. Moroever the government will enhance strategies to create awareness of matters relating to ECD. The Pitso was held under the theme Rethinking and Repositioning Early Childhood Development in Botswana.