Gov’t urged to implement early childhood development policy
Government has been asked to implement the policy on early childhood development, particularly in the rural communities to promote the welfare of children.
The Christian Children’s Fund of Canada (CCFC), a non-governmental, which made the call, said the implementation of the plan would ensure that children received quality early childhood care for towards their development.
Mrs Gifty Akosua Baka, Country Director of the NGO, made the call at the inauguration of the Early Childhood Care and Development Centre (ECD), at Dakpam in the Nanumba North District of the Northern Region.
The facility, which was jointly funded by ChildFund Korea, an NGO, comprises a playing ground, furniture, toilet and rainwater harvesting tank and accessories valued at GH¢102,314.
Mrs Baka said the CCFC has adopted an integrated development approach to intervention in education, water and sanitation, health and nutrition, sustainable livelihood development and institutional capacity building.
She said ChildFund Korea, CCFC-Ghana and its partner NGO, Assemblies of God Relief and Development Services (AGREDS) were supporting Government and the Ghana National Campaign Coalition, to promote the rights of the young and most vulnerable.
Mrs Baka said this would enable them to have access to health care delivery and education and also raise the awareness of the youth about the importance of proper early childhood to the a child’s growth.
She mentioned lack of trained teachers, poor infrastructure, inadequate teaching and learning materials, issues relating to the implementation of language policy amongst others as some of the challenges, which bedevilled Early Childhood Education Centres in the country.
Mrs Baka said as a result, about 30 per cent of children were not in school, adding, “CCFC hopes that Dakpam community does not add to this percentage”.
She expressed hope that the Ghana Education Service Directorate in the Nanumba North would complement the effort of CCFC and its partners, by helping to train children.
Mrs Baka advised parents to take interests in their children’s education to enable them to acquire skills and knowledge needed for national development.
Source: GNA