Julia Kamarenga
The Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare allocated over N$5 million for the construction, renovation and upgrading of various early childhood development centres in the Omaheke region.
This was revealed yesterday in Otjijarua during a combined official inauguration and handover of the various centres.
In a statement read by Epukiro councillor Packy Pakarae on behalf of deputy minister of marginalised communities, Royal /Ui/o/oo, he emphasised the importance of early childhood development in shaping and moulding children into becoming good citizens who can mitigate against many societal ills such as gender-based violence.
Development-integrated early childhood services and early interventions ensure that children have the necessary foundation of health and development, which help in optimising a child’s ability to learn, develop social skills, build up immune defences and become happy, healthy and an able child, he added.
/Ui/o/oo indicated that investments in early childhood development (ECD) yields tremendous results such as academic excellence, a positive attitude towards commitment and school attendance, thus creating a perfect approach towards life as the child grows.
Mandated with early childhood development programmes, the ministry of gender equality, in consultation with key stakeholders, developed the Namibian standards for early childhood development to standardise the provision of quality ECD services.
The ministry also developed the integrated early childhood development framework for action to improve collaboration in the delivery of inclusive and holistic ECD services.
Waraa Kamukwenjandje, the chief community liaison officer in the gender equality ministry, pleaded with parents to promote story-telling to provoke children’s thinking capacities and listening skills, as well as to create environments where children learn practically. Kamukwenjandje further encouraged parents to fully utilise the centre, but not to keep the children at home while the facilities turn into white elephants.
Pakarae, for his part, said the responsibility now lies with all parents and teachers to ensure an environment that will enable the children’s physical development, cognitive development, social and emotional development as well as the development of their communication skills.
Community leader in Otjijarua, Akim Ngupahua, expressed delight at the development in his village as it will contribute to the improvement and upgrade of their children’s education.
Currently, the Omaheke region has 90 early childhood development centres with 2 284 children registered, and 125 edu-carers.