The country is working towards achieving 100 per cent access to the Early Childhood Care and Development Centre by 2029. Towards this development, ECCD centres are being set up in places requiring the facility. One such facility has opened in Wangdue Phodrang’s Rinchengang Toed Chiwog in Thedtsho Gewog. The centre will enable children aged three to five in the area to engage in learning activities that will help them grow to their full potential. The country’s ECCD accessibility rate as of 2022 stands at nearly 39 per cent.
The Early Childhood Care and Development Center in Rinchengang Toed was constructed, spending Nu 4 M with funds from the government.
The centre opened recently. Around 35 children aged three to five years from Rinchengang Toed and Maed chiwogs have been enrolled in the centre.
The centre will help these children develop their cognitive, social, and physical growth to build a strong foundation for learning and prepare them to transition smoothly into their pre-primary education.
Expressing their gratitude, parents said they are optimistic of their children’s growth, adding there is a vast difference between children attending ECCD centres and those who directly enroll into preprimary school.
“Our children find it difficult when they go to school if they do not attend Early Childhood Care and Development Center. So, we are extremely delghted since we got a center for our children here now. I would like to thank the government for providing us with such a facility,” said Kaka, a parent from Rinchengang Toed Chiwog, Thedtsho Gewog.
“As a villager, it is difficult for us. We do not get enough time to be with children. We do not get time to look after our children at home. So, if we keep our children here at the centre, it will not only benefit us but our children as well as they get to learn a lot,” said Sangay Phuntsho, another parent from Rinchengang Toed Chiwog, Thedtsho Gewog.
“There is a big difference between children who have attended Early Childhood Care and Development centre and children enrolling in school directly. Children attending ECCD centre are more confident in school compared to children who are admitted to school directly. Therefore, we are very thankful for giving us this facility,” said Pem, also a parent from Rinchengang Toed.
“For those who have mobile phone and television at their homes, they keep their children engaged with these facilities. Children growing up in households without these facilities remain home playing with dirt and getting sick. I have seen many such cases. Hereafter, this centre will benefit our children as they will not have to face such situations,” said Nima, Rinchengang Toed Tshogpa, Thedtsho Gewog.
According to the Wangdi Phodrang District Education Sector, the facility is the district’s first inclusive and model Early Childhood Care and Development centre. An official said the centre reflects the district’s commitment to providing early childhood interventions for children with disabilities.
“It is one of the model ECCD centres where everything is in place. Although we don’t have infrastructure and another facility in place right now, we are looking forward to providing professional development to all the facilities in the coming fiscal year,” said Pema Tshering, deputy chief education officer, Wangdue Phodrang.
Currently, Wangdue Phodrang has twenty-five such centres with 46 facilitators catering to more than 600 children.
The Deputy Chief Education Officer said 10 such additional centres will be opened in the district in the 2024-2025 financial year.
Changa Dorji, Wangdue Phodrang
Edited by Phub Gyem
