Association for mandatory pre-school education
The Association of Early Childhood Development in Malawi (AECDM) has asked government to make pre-school education mandatory and free across the country.
Speaking in an interview on Friday in Lilongwe, AECDMexecutive director Charles Gwengwe argued the move will enhance the country’s education sector.
“It is time we got serious as a country by investing in children. All these developing countries that are busy investing in pre-school education can never be wrong; the future is bleak if our children do not attain quality education today,” said Gwengwe.
His remarks come in the wake of a recent move by government to make primary school education, which is already free, mandatory. The decree is expected to come into effect as schools open next month.
According to Gwengwe, the Mmera Mpoyamba agenda should translate into action, cautioning “lest it be one of those songs sung only at policy level”.
“Children’s talents, innovations and potentials need to be noticed at tender ages in life and then adequately nurtured if we are serious of becoming a nation of achievers,” he said.
In response, principal child development officer in the Ministry of Gender, Women and Children Affairs, Pauline Simwaka, said plans are in the pipeline to rollout the project, adding necessary steps are already being taken.
“We appreciate the role pre-schools play in helping to shape the country’s education sector. That also explains why we have now come up with a harmonised syllabus for all caregivers to subscribe to so that we help reduce the disparities the sector faces in terms of knowledge levels among learners,” she said.
In the absence of a policy for universal attendance for preschool education, only those who have the means can afford the fees as most schools are privately owned, a development AECDM wants changed.
