Cabinet Passes Early Childhood Policy for 0-6 Year Olds
The new policy aims to regulate fees in nursery schools, curriculum content , appropriate learning hours,
Cabinet has passed the policy on early childhood targeting young learners between the age of zero to six years of age.
The policy was passed in a recent cabinet meeting held on Monday, the Minister for ICT and National Guidance, Chris Baryomunsi, has announced that the policy presentation was delivered by the Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Kataha Museveni, emphasizing care and educational support for children in this crucial developmental stage.
Baryomunsi said to journalists at the Uganda Media Center on Wednesday that the policy’s focus on providing quality care and educational support to children in the 0-6 age bracket, citing scientific evidence on human development. He underlined the correlation between quality childhood education and improved educational outcomes, particularly in nursery and pre-primary education.
He revealed that since the government doesn’t have the immediate capacity to institute Nursery teaching in public schools it will be largely implemented by non state actors.
“The policy will be spearheaded by non-state actors, faith-based organizations, and the private sector until the government formally initiates nursery education in three to four years’ time,” stated Baryomunsi.
He emphasized that the existing nursery school structure will continue under government guidance and regulation through the Ministry of Education and Sports.
The new policy aims to regulate early childhood education comprehensively, from curriculum content to appropriate learning environments and fees, prioritizing the developmental needs of young children based on scientific insights.
Addressing concerns about school fees, Baryomunsi noted, “There is also a habit of individuals starting nursery school and charging fees higher than what is paid at university, so the government will regulate areas like that.” He also stressed the importance of appropriate learning times for young children, stating, “For example, why should you take a 3-year-old to school at 5 am when rest is part of the development a child needs?”
The Minister highlighted the content of the curriculum taught to young children, specifying that pre-primary education would target ages 3 to 5 years before transitioning to primary one, at 6 years , backed by scientific evidence.
“After conception, a fetus starts forming, and the development process of a human being is different from that of other animals because the fetus starts developing from inside the uterus, like hearing and picking what is in the environment,” explained Baryomunsi. “The size of the baby at birth is 25 percent of the adult brain, and by 3 years, it is 80 percent the size of the adult brain, and by 6 years, it’s 90 percent.”
He also revealed the scientific justification for starting nursery learning at 3 years, citing the evidence on maternal-child bonding and nutrition during the first two years of a child’s life.
“So the first two years the focus is on maternal child bonding and nutrition that’s why its justified to have nursery learning at 3 years because of the science evidence” he added
The Government of Uganda in 2018 launched a comprehensive Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Policy aimed at bolstering children’s holistic development and ensuring equitable access to quality education services for all young Ugandans.
This policy focuses ECCE in nurturing children aged 0 to 6 years within safe and stimulating environments, with a strong emphasis on the family as the primary provider of care and support.
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