Government to champion home based child learning

Nov 15, 2019

A review is being conducted by the Curriculum Development Centre to provide an assessment that will fit with the demands of our educational market.

EDUCATION

KAMPALA - The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of education and sports Alex Kakooza has revealed that the government in its national development plan, it aims to create universal access to early childhood learning soon.

"Government realized that Early Childhood Development (ECD) is very critical to the children's education," Kakooza said

A review is being conducted by the Curriculum Development Centre to provide an assessment that will fit with the demands of our educational market," Kakooza explained.

The permanent secretary made the revelation during the signing a Memorandum of Understanding between Literacy and Adult Basic Education (LABE) and the ministry.

LABE is a local organization that promotes literacy practices and increases access to information among women and children in local communities.

  tellah umwebaze xecutive director literacy and adult basic education ohn remu vice chairperson literacy and adult basic education ugenyi leophus commissioner teacher education standards ministry of education and sports and lex akooza the permanent secretary ministry of education and sports signing the memorandum of understanding at the ministry of education in ampala on the 15th ovember 2019 hoto by immy uta (L-R) Stellah Tumwebaze, Executive director literacy and adult basic education, John Eremu, vice chairperson literacy and adult basic education Mugenyi Cleophus, commissioner teacher education standards ministry of education and sports, and Alex Kakooza, the permanent secretary ministry of education and sports signing the memorandum of understanding at the ministry of education in Kampala on the 15th November, 2019. Photo by Jimmy Outa

 
Kakooza said home-based ECD especially in rural areas is essential for a child's upbringing that introduces a child to learn new things in life. 

"In many rural areas, children fail to access ECD facilities and end up losing interests in studies as they join primary schools at a tender age," he noted.

He said that it is at this stage that learners are introduced to writing, listening and also learning how to play with friends.

"In the past, the government concentrated on funding primary education and Early Childhood Education (ECE) was left to the private sector and non-governmental organizations. With this partnership, the government will support the sector," he said.

Kakooza lauded LABE for the initiative of providing financial literacy to the rural communities adding that this promotes the culture of saving and development.

"In many areas, parents have failed to support their children in primary and secondary school levels due to lack of funds. However, with this initiative, parents can now provide for their children," he said.

Hajati Safina Mutumba, senior education officer, pre-primary education at the ministry said the ECD program focuses on 3-6-year-olds, operating in the homes and targets very poor and highly marginalized communities.

"The home-based ECD model has been shared with the ministry at the national level," she said.

The LABE deputy board chair John Eremu said with the partnership, they will work with the government to contribute to the improvement of quality of education in the country.

"LABE is bringing in its innovative ideas of increasing access to early learning through its home-based ECD model that has been proved to yield results," Eremu explained.

LABE executive director Stellah Keihangwe Tumwebaze said the organization is currently implementing educational projects focusing on pre-school children, involving their parents in the under-served districts of Gulu, Nwoya, and Koboko.

 

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