The Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare has expressed concern over the lack of Early Childhood Development (ECD) plans in community development structures, saying the situation is affecting implementation of ECD programmes in most districts across the country.
Principal Child Affairs Officer in the ministry, Nellie Masamba, said this on Tuesday during a stakeholder sensitisation meeting on ECD in Mulanje.
She said most village development and area development plans do not include ECD structures such as community-based child care centres (CBCCs).
“If we don’t have ECD plans in our community development plans then we are leaving behind our children. As the district council will be implementing the reformed Constituency Development Fund (CDF) let us consider investing in ECD,” Masamba said.
She said investment in ECD aligns with Malawi 2063 aspirations.
Senior Chief Chikumbu described the sensitisation meeting as timely, saying it would help communities prioritise ECD issues in district planning.
“The meeting has been an eye opener. We wish this came long ago,” the Senior Chief said.
She appealed to government to continue engaging stakeholders to encourage communities to send children to CBCCs.
Director of Education and Sports, Enock Chumachao, said strengthening ECD programmes would help prepare children for primary education.
“Most of the learners we enroll in Standard 1 are not ready for school because they did not go through ECD centres. This affects their performance in class,” Chumachao said.
He encouraged parents to send their children to ECD centres to help them prepare for primary school education.
