Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) centre is considered crucial for a child’s overall growth. However, an ECCD centre at Goomkarmo in Punakha has been closed for almost three months with its lone facilitator on maternity leave. Parents say there is a need for at least two facilitators to run the centre smoothly.
With no facilitator in the centre, a few of the parents have started taking their children to their working stations while some stay at home.
“There is a problem when the lone facilitator goes on leave. With no facilitator, it is difficult,” added Tenzin Wangchuk, the Goomkarmo chiwog Tshogpa.
Similarly, when the lone facilitator at Laptsakha ECCD centre in Talog Gewog went on maternity leave, the centre was on the verge of closing. But the Principal of Laptsakha Primary School managed a substitute volunteer facilitator. The facilitator has been teaching more than 30 children for about two months now. She was oriented for some three weeks prior to joining the centre.
“She has been serving voluntarily here at Laptsakha ECCD centre without any problem so far. There is no salary for her from the government but she has been working entirely based on her own interest here. So, I am planning to provide her with some amount at the end as she has been really helpful in these needy times,” said Kinzang Wangchuk, the Principal of Laptsakha Primary School.
“The volunteer facilitator has been really helping our children learn at the centre. Our children would have to discontinue their learning had it not been for our volunteer facilitator. I feel it would be more convenient if there are two facilitators. This way, when one goes on leave, there is no dearth,” said Sonam Choki, a parent.
“We have two classrooms but we have to keep our children at home most of the time as there is only one facilitator. Our children get the opportunity only once or twice a week based on a rotation basis. If there are two facilitators then we would be able to send our children daily. The facilitators can divide the children and facilitate them daily,” added Rada Wangmo, another parent.
According to the National Policy on ECCD, centres having children below the strength of 29 is entitled to only one facilitator. However, parents feel that one facilitator is not enough when the lone facilitator goes on leave.
“Of course, there is no entitlement of more than one facilitator in an ECCD centre. But, it would be convenient if there are either two facilitators or substitute facilitators. ECCD centre is extremely important. It would be highly helpful if the government can at least provide two facilitators for one ECCD centre,” said Tenzin Wangchuk, the Goomkarmo chiwog Tshogpa.
“Today, the lone facilitator has to leave the centre locked while he/she goes on leave. And the ultimate losers are the children of the particular village. Therefore, I feel that it is high time to rectify the policies and consider the place and the number of children,” said Rinchen Samdrup, the deputy chief education officer of the dzongkhag.
Currently, there are 24 ECCD centres including three private centres in the dzongkhag with 27 facilitators. And all of them are women.
Changa Dorji, Punakha
