Early Childhood Development a valuable investment – First lady

The First lady Mrs. Jeannette Kagame

The First lady Mrs. Jeannette Kagame has emphasised the importance of investing in Early Childhood Development Programmes to ensure Rwanda’s overall development.

Mrs. Kagame said this while officiating at the opening of the Early Childhood Development (ECD) National Stakeholders Meeting taking place in Kigali.

The meeting brought together policy makers from concerned Ministries, as well as District officials and other stakeholders involved in Early Childhood Development programmes.

“Early Childhood Development interventions are among the most cost-effective investments a country can make in the human development and capital formation of its people, and its impact in economically disadvantaged communities can be transformational,” said the First lady emphasising that giving children the best possible start in life is one of the best investments Rwanda can make for its present priorities. 

The meeting comes at a time when government has just approved an Early Childhood Development Policy and Strategic Plan, which provide a framework to ensure a holistic and integrated approach to the development of young children.

The goal of the Early Childhood Development Policy according to the Ministry of Education is to ensure that all Rwandan children achieve their potential, are healthy, well-nourished and safe. It is also to guarantee that their parents as well as well as their communities become nurturing caregivers through receiving integrated early childhood development services.

The integrated approach to ECD within the Policy calls for coordination across various sectors. ECD forms the foundation of Basic Education programmes in the Ministry of Education; Maternal and Child Health, Nutrition and Sanitation Services for the Ministries of Health and Infrastructure; and Social Protection Services of the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, among others.

“We are all responsible to promote the right of every child to grow up in a conducive environment with opportunities to be the best that they can be,” Mrs. Kagame reminded the meeting.

UNICEF Country Representative Noala Skinner highlighted the important role played by the community and families in the early development of children and said

“The community-based approach at the heart of the Early Childhood Development Policy underlines the importance of the family in giving young children the best start in life through promoting good parenting practices.”

“Building an integrated system around children, centred on a nurturing and loving family equipped with positive parenting skills and community-based ECD services will contribute reducing the main problems related to the protection and development of children”, said Skinner

Minister of Education Dr. Vincent Biruta called upon the stakeholders to examine commitments under the ECD Policy and Strategic Plan and to strengthen areas of coordination.

The meet also marks the beginning of the Early Childhood Development Global Action Week Campaign, which comprises several media and awareness raising events, lasting up to 28 April.

For these events, Government, UNICEF and Civil Society organizations will come together to jointly implement several initiatives, including radio broadcasts, media briefings, poster and leaflet campaigns, public discussions on Early Childhood Development and reading day events which will focus on instilling a reading culture at a young age.

Jeannette Kagame

Jeannette Kagame

Jeannette Kagame