Harmonized Early Childhood Development services, a right to children
Mulanje district social welfare department has underscored the need for coordinated and harmonized Early Childhood Development systems if the future of children in the district is to be kept in shape.
District Child Protection Officer for Mulanje, Noel Chambo made the emphasis recently in when the department conducted an orientation meeting for Early Childhood Development Center Proprietors, with an aim of equipping them with updated knowledge on government’s recommended standards of ECD Center as stipulated in the National ECD policy.
According to Chambo, lack of harmony on the environments for ECD centers and services that should be provided in the district has constantly given room to some Proprietors of providing substandard nursery and daycare services to children at the expense of their parents’ money.
“Early Childhood Development services are not in shape in the district due to lack of adherence to ECD service standards, that is why now we want to start harmonizing the services so that each ECD Center owner should be operating within government policy,” said Chambo.
He added that his department had noted with great concern that some ECD centers in the district were contributing to children’s poor bodily, spiritual and growth educational growth as the owners do not have the technical know-how of taking a child through the recommended growth and development.
Commenting on the allegations leveled against ECD owners, one woman Eunice Makawa attributed all problems rocking ECD services in the district to the government department’s laxity on standardizing the service.
She further alleged that some ECD centers were contributing to children’s malnutrition as they literally fail to provide them with a balanced diet every day; a thing that most parents do not take note of.
Meanwhile the Social Welfare Department has facilitated formation of an Association for Pre schools in Mulanje District, which will among other things be responsible for ensuring that services at ECD centers in the district are up to par.
