Early Childhood Development Centres should serve as the foundation for the future of the nation, Dr Anita Asiimwe, the National Coordinator of the National Early Childhood Development Programme, has said. She was recently inaugurating a new ECD centre in Bumbogo sector in Gasabo District. The centre is made of three classrooms. Each classroom with capacity to accommodate 36 children, a multipurpose hall, administration block, washrooms for both children and adults, a kitchen and a children recreational facility. Asiimwe said that the ECD centre will prepare children from Bumbogo for school life and help reduce the number of school dropouts in the sector. Citing Korea as an example, the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Republic of Korean Embassy-Hyuni Hwang, said: “Education has been one of the critical drivers of Korea’s rapid transformation from one of the poorest countries.” The Rwf200 million centre was built by Parenting Child Care Rwanda (PCCR) and funded by Child Fund Korea. Nteziryayo Mitabu Celestin-Legal Representative of PCCR, said the centre will also help in strengthening the community in fighting malnutrition and increase the quality of education among others benefits. In addition to enhancing school readiness, the centre is also envisaged to teach parents basic practices in childcare, parenting practices, preparation of a balanced diet. “The home-based ECD initiative is good and it should help the parents in emphasising what the children learnt; if the kid learnt about a balanced diet, let him/her have the balanced diet at home…” Dr. Asiimwe said. Bumbogo sector officials said the ECD was highly needed, given the lack of a kindergarten in the area. “We have around 130 children who are ready to start school but we did not have a kindergarten in the area to accommodate them…” said Gertrude Urujeni, the Executive Secretary of Bumbogo Sector. The inauguration was graced by Gasabo District Mayor, Stephen Rwamulangwa, alongside Won Man Jun, the vice president of ChildFund Korea. Rwamulangwa commended ChildFund Korea for funding the construction of multiple ECD centre in Gasabo District. In 2017 and 2018, PCCR built such facilities in Jabana and Jali sectors in respectively. editor@newtimesrwanda.com
