Learning centre for disadvantaged children

Learning centre for disadvantaged children

The store which will be converted to a learning centre

29 January, 2011 - An early childhood care development center (ECCD), which the Thimphu City Corporation is opening soon at Motithang, is expected to solve the problem of numerous labourers, the municipal authority had employed.

Without anyone to look after their children, labourers employed by the TCC bring along their children to their workplace every day. Children spend the day playing near the road where their mothers work. Many mothers carry their children on the back and work from 9am to 5pm everyday. This is happening, they said, because private day care center are beyond their reach and they have no baby sitters at home. We cannot keep our children alone at home. We are left with no choice, said another mother, Jitimaya Gurung. There are some children, above 10 years who go to school while others work with their parents to earn an extra income. If our child work we get little bit of extra income, said one. School is important but we dont have time and resources. The centre will provide both early education and relief to mothers. Funded by the Save The Children organisation in Bhutan, the centre located on the left side of Mothithang childrens park will be established for children below six years. The centre will have two classrooms to accommodate about 37 children in each. Co-founder and sole donor of the center, Mr John Austin Hearst said it is very important for child below six years to develop their mind and get the feeling of classroom before they start going to school. The most efficient way of using dollar is in building childhood development as it makes lot of difference, he said. The labour officer with the corporation Ganesh Gurung said the centre was supposed to start from this month but because of renovation works on the storeroom, which is being developed as the classroom, the ope! ning was delayed. Ganesh Gurung said the center would be for most needy employees working with the corporation. This will be mainly for those low income group of people including driver, caretaker, electrician, sweeper and caretaker, he said.The two facilitators trained by Save The Children at the centre would teach social, physical, cognitive and language development. Theyll also be taught on the social emotional skills, communication, and will also study spiritual and moral cultural values, Save The Children education program manager, Karma Dyenka said. She said unlike the privately run day care centres, parents do not have to pay, and the corporation will maintain the centres. Parents can contribute materials and mobilise the centre, she said.However, officials said the centre is a pilot run in collaboration with the early childhood care and development (ECCD) programme of ministry of education. The pilot run will be until 2014 to study the effectiveness before starting in another community, Karma Dyenka said.The estimated Nu 246,000 worth centre is expected to open in March with 69 children already registered. By Yangchen C Rinzin



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