Authorities tipped on increasing number of trained caregivers

The Department for Early Childhood Development (ECD) under the Synod of Livingstonia has stressed the need to increase the number of trained caregivers across ECD centers in Karonga.

This call comes in light of statistics revealing that only about 23% of caregivers in the district have received formal ECD training.

Speaking in an interview on Thursday after presenting a progress report to the district executive committee (DEC) on the School Readiness Initiative Project, Caroline Phiri, Program Manager for the ECD Department, emphasized that training caregivers in basic ECD and digital programming is vital for children’s education and growth. She noted that the first three years are crucial for brain development, which shapes a child’s future, making it essential to train more caregivers in ECD.

“As you know, ECD is the foundation of all development. A child who attends these services is better equipped to cope at every stage of education. Therefore, we must train more caregivers to ensure they can impart the necessary knowledge to the children,” she said.

Child rights advocate Mike Munthali echoed this concern, highlighting that the challenges in the ECD sector will persist as long as funding remains insufficient. He stressed that underfunding jeopardizes the quality of education at its most critical stage, impacting lifelong learning and development.

“Without significant financial investment, the ECD sector risks leaving behind the most vulnerable children, which undermines the country’s future potential,” Munthali said.

Supported by the Roger Federer Foundation, the ECD Department has been implementing the School Readiness Initiative Project in Karonga since 2020. The project, which has been extended to Traditional Authority (TA) Mwakaboko, is set to run until 2026.