‘Send children to early learning centres’
M’Mbelwa District Council early childhood development coordinator Kondwani Viano has urged parents in Mzimba District to send their children to community-based childcare centres (CBCCs).
He said this on Monday during a graduation of 50 children from eight CBCCs in Traditional Authority (T/A) Mzikubola.
Viano said evidence shows that the first years of a child’s life have an impact on one’s growth and development.
He said: “Government introduced early education development programme to ensure that all children receive proper care, support and development during the first 1 000 days of their life.
“Therefore, I want to call on parents in Mzimba District to send their children to CBCCs.”
St John of God project coordinator Byson Chidzalo, whose organisation supported the graduation, said they are working with 170 CBCCs in the district.
“The CBCCs have 537 caregivers. We want to ensure that children receive proper care before joining primary school.”
Machecheta CBCC caregiver Gloria Mwale reiterated calls for government to consider putting caregivers on payroll.
“We work every day for nothing. At least government and partners should consider us with a little something to support our families,” she said.
Mwale also encouraged parents of children with disabilities to send them to CBCCs.
One of the parents, Elena Soko, commended St John of God for supporting early learning in the district.
“Children who attend elementary lessons do not struggle in primary schools,” she said.
Six-year-old Wezzie Chirwa, from Kazinga CBCC, said she was ready to start primary school.
“During pre-school I learned the alphabet, counting and identifying drawings such as animals, cars, houses and people,” she said.
St. John of God is implementing Inclusive Early Childhood Care and Development Project in T/As Kampingo Sibande, Mzikubola and M’Mbelwa with support from Save the Children.
