ECD lessons offered in dilapidated classrooms
Association of Early Childhood Development in Malawi (AECDM) has decried poor conditions of buildings used as classrooms for Early Childhood Development (ECD) classes.
In a statement released on Friday, AECDM executive director, Archie Malisita said most of the buildings are characterised by poor ventilation, dusty rooms and poor lighting.
Said Malisita: “The buildings in which children learn are poor and inadequate. Many have dilapidated structures and lack child-friendly sanitary [infrastructure] such as water facilities and have few trained caregivers.”
Malisita said only half of the 30 000 caregivers who provide these services in Community-Cased Care Centres (CBCCs) are trained.
Under-secretary in the Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare Austin Luhanga said his ministry would strengthen ECD services so that they are of high quality.
He said this in Blantyre recently during a workshop aimed at reviewing and validating the draft ECD capacity building strategy.
“The provision of high quality ECD services cannot be achieved overnight. It requires guidance which can only be sought through the development of a comprehensive capacity building strategy such as the one we are reviewing,” said Luhanga.
