By Sarah Munthali
Mchinji, November 11, MANA: The minister of Gender community development and social welfare Patricia Kaliati has called on religious institutions to support Early Child hood Development (ECD) programmes to ensure children have access to education at an early age.
Kaliati was speaking at Kambuwe, Mchinji on Thursday, during the official opening of Transform ECD centres by Anglican Council in Malawi (ACM).
She said religious institutions should be in forefront complementing governments’ efforts by establishing ECD as one way of supporting governments’ policy in promoting early childhood development.
“The government is promoting ECD and currently 150 ECD centres are under construction with funding from World Bank, this will help improve education in the country,” she said.
Kaliati said children who undergo preschool training are likely to complete their education to tertiary level hence the need for more stake holders to implement early child hood development programmes.
She commended the Anglican Council of Malawi for constructing an ECD centre at Kambuwe in Mchinji and Rumphi, saying the church is a key development partner in developmental programmes.
Chairperson of the Anglican Council of Malawi, Right Reverend Alinafe Kalemba said the Anglican Church is committed to continue providing best care for children through the ECD centres.
“The Anglican Church has continued to invest in education sectors over the years and so far we have 157 primary and 21 secondary schools because we believe in laying a better foundation for the life of an individual and societies they live in,” he said.
Kalemba said the church believe that implementing ECD programmes ensures that children are prepared for the future and provided with opportunities to develop generic skills that are needed for them to be fruitful in life.
“Through the Transform project supported by the Norwegian Church support the ECD programme also provides a better platform in building the capacity of the caregivers which include parents guardians, volunteers or any other person who take care of the children,” he added.
Chairperson for Mchinji District Council, Musha White commended the Anglican Council for the ECD centre which has also enabled people in surrounding areas have access to clean water through the water facility at the centre.
