A recent Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) monitoring exercise in selected Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the Northern Region has revealed significant challenges in creches, nurseries, and kindergartens.
The report, presented at a stakeholders' meeting in Tamale, outlined concerns about the lack of adequate toilet facilities and furniture in some preschools. “Few of the schools monitored had everything in place as required for pre-school children,” stated the report.
The ECCD monitoring was conducted by a four-member committee with support from Children Believe, an international NGO.
Madam Sherifatu Gyimah, a Director at the Northern Regional Coordinating Council and a member of the ECCD Committee, expressed concern about the indecent toilet facilities observed in some schools meant for young children.
“Some of the schools visited had no washrooms, no furniture, and where there was furniture, they were not child-friendly,” noted Mr Sanday Iddrisu, the Northern Regional Chairman of the Early Childhood Development Committee.
He raised alarms about overcrowded and unventilated classrooms, with some accommodating as many as 72 children.
The report underscored the lack of basic requirements for Early Childhood Education in many public schools, calling for enhanced monitoring and efforts to ensure compliance with ECCD standards.
Mr. Samuel Oppong Kwabiah, Programmes Manager at Children Believe, highlighted the importance of supporting early education and addressing the challenges identified in the monitoring report.
Children Believe has been actively involved in supporting the formation of ECCD Committees in the northern regions to monitor and address issues related to childhood care. The monitoring report revealed gaps in preschool care and emphasized the need for age-appropriate furniture in schools.
Parents were urged to actively support the early education of their children, recognizing the importance of building a solid educational foundation for their future endeavours.
