By Shafique Sekalala – Investments in nursery schools can improve children’s academic performance in later life and contribute to the overall quality of life in a country.
Research has shown that nursery schools, also known as Early Childhood Development (ECD) programmes, can foster critical skills, boost the economy and bolster the workforce. Given the prevalence of poverty in Africa generally, and Uganda in particular, investing in nursery schools for disadvantaged children would, therefore, have a long-lasting positive impact on Uganda’s socio-economic status.
Lack of quality ECD programmes has resulted in poor performance for many students as many of them are unable to catch up fast enough in primary schools. This can be seen in the poor education results in Uganda over the years.
[…] However, it is not all gloom and doom. Cognisant of this challenge, the Aga Khan Foundation, through its early childhood development programme, the Madrasa ECD Programme (MECP), has over the last two years established and obtained licensing for a fully-fledged independent ECD Teacher Training Institute.
Source: Education: Investment in early childhood development has far-reaching lifelong returns
Related: Novel approach to Early Childhood Education in Africa is creating a valuable legacy [The Ismaili]
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