Low enrollment to Child-Based Care Centers for Children from the area of Group Village Headman Kamoto, Traditional Authority Makhuwira in Chikwawa district, has been a growing challenge.
This was due to lack of proper structures, trained caregivers, and feeding programs, which discouraged many parents from sending their children to such facilities.
Chairperson of the area's Village Development Committee (VDC) Gospel Kamanula, described the situation as worrisome,
"This had a negative impact on children, as they could grow without being prepared for primary school, which affected their overall performance “shared Kamanula.
But now through a feeding program under Community Resilience Program by the Malawi Red Cross Society, there is hope that implementation of early childhood education seems to be on the right track.
This is evidenced by the increased enrollment rate of children in the area's two Child-Based Care Centres, - Makwiza and Kamoto.
Chairperson of the CBCCs in the area, Joe Malangasa, testified, “The centers have an enrollment rate of over 190, thanks to the Malawi Red Cross Society's school feeding program and the capacity building to caregivers on early childhood education. This has improved the delivery of early childhood education and ultimately increasing enrollment rate”
Despite facing the challenge of proper learning structures, the children enrolled in these centers are many and most of them are from hunger stricken families. The project gives them Likuni Phala during lean season.
Plans are underway though to construct proper Child-Based Care Centres in the area, with authorities appealing to Red Cross and other well-wishers for support.
MRCS Efforts to improve Early Childhood Education has been hailed by many in various gatherings.