Key partners in Early Childhood Development (ECD) converged in Kigali from March 27-28 to review and finalize updated ECD guides aimed at improving services for children in Rwanda. The workshop offered a platform for open discussion, allowing stakeholders to share insights and improve the materials ahead of their official validation. ALSO READ: KUZA-Kids programme enhancing early childhood education in Rulindo Gilbert Munyemana, the Deputy Director General of the National Child Development Agency (NCDA), stressed the transformative potential of the newly validated guidelines in boosting ECD services across the country. “The guidelines will boost the services that we provide to children. Not only early learning, though early learning is the focus of the first part of the guidelines because it emphasizes brain stimulation, but also other areas that promote child development, including nutrition, child protection, hygiene, and positive parenting,” he explained. ALSO READ: Early Childhood Development: Rwanda mulls plan to strengthen support for children with disabilities Munyemana acknowledged progress in expanding access to ECD services while highlighting existing gaps in quality. “These guidelines will provide clear guidance to caregivers on how to stimulate a child’s brain, prepare them for primary school, ensure a balanced diet, and adopt positive parenting practices. They even include pictorial illustrations to assist caregivers,” he added. He revealed plans to train caregivers on the guidelines, starting with master trainers, who will train district-level trainers, eventually reaching village-level caregivers. “The guidelines have been validated today, and training will soon follow. We plan to train master trainers, who will then train trainers at the district level, and so forth down to the village level,” he said. To ensure the guidelines’ effectiveness, Munyemana highlighted assessment mechanisms such as regular supervision and collaboration with Rwanda Governance Board (RDB). “The ECD scorecard is our key tool, assessing satisfaction and quality across six pillars. It also helps us identify and address gaps,” he noted. The latest ECD mapping identified over 30,000 settings, including home-based, school-based, and community-based ECD centers. Imbuto Foundation, in collaboration with the Local Government Development Agency (LODA), has been instrumental in advancing ECD services in Rwanda, particularly focusing on home-based ECDs and Integrated Development Program (IDP) model villages. Since January 2024, their efforts have concentrated on capacity building, parental engagement, and behavior change in child protection. Elodie Shami, the Director General of Imbuto Foundation, detailed the comprehensive review process that began in April 2024 to update the ECD caregiver’s guide and trainer’s guide. She noted that the process included enhancing content, adding illustrations, and aligning with national operational standards. “A pre-validation workshop held from March 5 to 6 incorporated feedback from key partners, including the World Bank, to add more playful activities across 12 thematic areas. From March 11 to 19, further adjustments were made to finalize the guides, concluding in today’s validation workshop,” she said. Shami noted that updated guides will create nurturing and stimulating environments for children. “By strengthening the capacity of caregivers and providing practical tools, we are empowering communities to ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive,” she stated. She added that the guides aim to enhance ECD service delivery in six IDP model villages, Karama (Nyarugenge), Rugabano (Karongi), Munini (Nyaruguru), Kinigi (Musanze), Busanza (Kicukiro), and Rugerero (Rubavu). They also include updated modules for parenting sessions on health, nutrition, and child protection. “Our collective efforts highlight our commitment to laying a strong foundation for the next generation,” Shami said. Mireille Batamuliza, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, emphasized the need for investment in children and the importance of coordination in delivering quality ECD services. “We must prioritize investment in children. While we have made progress, providing quality education requires coordinated efforts from the home level to the central district. Leveraging available resources effectively is key to making a real impact. For example, as a school leader, your top priority should be ECD, as this is essential for achieving the targets set in the National Strategy for Transformation (NST2).” Batamuliza stressed the need for strategic planning and addressing service delivery gaps. “To ensure the best care for our children, we must focus on all critical aspects. This includes understanding the fertility rate, predicting how many children will be born each year, and planning for the necessary number of ECD centers. It’s crucial to identify and bridge any gaps, coordinate efforts to address them, and instill a spirit of continuous monitoring.” She also commended the guides for being in Kinyarwanda, ensuring they are accessible to all end-users.
