Experts in child brain development and education have cited low male engagement as part of holistic education.

A study carried out by Save the Children in partnership with the National Early Childhood Development Program (NECDP) on ‘Male Engagement in Early Childhood Development’ indicated that in 61 per cent of the households, the mother had interacted with the child in the past three days, while only 20 per cent fathers networked with their child, and in 16 per cent of households another caregiver interacted with the child.

In order to improve parenting practices, the interaction with the child is done by playing, reading, counting, drawing, singing songs, telling stories, among others.

The research on male engagement in such early childhood development  for children below six years and from six years to 13, was carried out in the districts of Burera, Ngoma, Gasabo, Bugesera, Muhanga, Rughango, Karongi and others.

The lack of male engagement is mainly caused by gender norms and social cultural barriers, unpaid care work, whereby food management and caregiving is always the responsibility of the females because men are not equipped with related skills and others lack the time.

Lack of male engagement, researchers say could affect kids’ brain development.

The study conducted at the end of 2019 recommends increasing the variety and quality in interaction between fathers and their children, and variety of types of caregiver-child interactions. Emphasising the need for stimulation with children of all ages as well as increasing availability and use of books for young children and toys in homes, is also recommended.

Parenting and caregiving should be all parents’ responsibility, De Clereq Zaninka, Head of Early Learning, Parent Education and Child Protection at National Early Childhood Development Program (NECDP), says.

"Men do not interact much with children since most of them think it is the responsibility of mothers, which is false. This research aims at encouraging men to contribute to their children’s early development,” she says.

"As an early childhood development programme, we are launching a campaign to approach and engage fathers about the role in early childhood development,” Zaninka says.

Researchers state that the first three years of childhood offer the best chance and window to influence brain development because majority of the child’s brain — 80%, develops at the age of three and almost 95% at the age of six.

Monica Abimpaye, the research unit director at Save the Children Rwanda, says: "We want to encourage fathers to engage more in their children’s early development, interacting with children; be it through playing with them, singing, telling stories, or even outdoors. All this will help children grow intellectually.”

"We have introduced male mentors for such parenting education to motivate others,” she adds.