Zimpapers Logo

Cool Latty
Train a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn from it (Proverbs 22:6). This simply blends well with the adage that charity begins at home. The initiative by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to have the policy of Early Childhood Development is quite commendable and has been supported by many parents.

It has come as a relief to some while to some it’s a disciplinary level of development as they spend the day without their troublesome children.

The policy has seen the education sector in Zimbabwe recognising that ECD can contribute significantly to nurturing of young children at various levels including physical, social, emotional, intellectual, cultural and spiritual.

Since 2004, Zimbabwe has pursued the ECD policy which requires primary schools to offer a minimum of two ECD classes for children from three to five years.

In support of this policy primary teacher training courses are now training ECD teachers who receive certified diplomas in ECD. Child development aspect among preschools is a solid foundation for a country’s development.

Some schools hold an annual child in action programme aimed at boosting children’s confidence in whatever they do.

Among the activities on the day are dramas, poetry, speeches and dialogues that actually stimulate the children’s confidence.

“We conduct these programmes to boost the kids’ confidence so that when they go out there to start their formal education they will be amazing,” said an official during a recent programme.

It has been established that the children at such levels are amazing and super as they demonstrate their abilities after a massive training from the patient teacher.

The job is not for the faint hearted as it requires patience if not passion for kids because it needs much attention , endurance and consistency.

Some kids take time to grasp especially on speeches and poems.

Above all after intensive mastering and teachings the children have to say goodbye to the level and graduate for formal primary level with well equipped minds.

Although the policy was meant for the benefit of the rural vulnerable children, it has received much applause from other areas and is now mandatory in both urban and rural schools.

The world has become more fashionable with little kids as young as three to five years speaking fluent English language.

Gone are the days graduation was only for higher levels, it has become a norm that every year parents converge at ECD schools to ululate for their kids graduating.

ECDs have become a daily bread and with 2013 now gone, we say by God’s grace welcome 2014 and this is the moment of difficulties for parents when they pay for school fees.