Since its establishment, the Bhutan Early Childhood Education and Development Association (BECEDA) has helped private Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) centers to grow professionally, feel supported, and most importantly, ensure children have access to quality early childhood education regardless of location. Through the association, private ECCD proprietors have been able to convince parents about the importance of early childhood care and development.
28-year-old Tabita Timsina opened a private ECCD centre soon after graduating from college. She started Timsina’s Toddler Toes in Trashigang with limited experience in Early Childhood Care and Development.
Her journey was challenging in the beginning, but things began to change after she became a member of the BECEDA. The support she received through the association encouraged her.
“Sometimes, it’s even hard to get information because I live in the extreme east of the country. It is just what we hear from somewhere or social media, and if we are not very active on social media, then we miss out on a lot of information. But now, as BECEDA is there, every ping on my phone gives me new information on how I can grow as a proprietor, how I can provide more for the ECCD center and how the children in the extreme east can grow up just like the children in the capital.”
She added that becoming a part of the association made her feel included.
Similarly, another ECCD proprietor from Gomtu shared that it was difficult for him to convince parents about the importance of enrolling their children in ECCD centres.
Mon Bir Sarki, Proprietor of Gomtu ECCD Centre said “In Gomtu, since most of the parents are illiterate, they were not willing to enroll their children in my centre. They did not understand the benefit of the enrollment. Since the formation of BECEDA, I requested the founder of the association to come to Gomtu and advocate parents on its importance. Ever since, things have turned out well for me.”
Likewise, Tabita Timsina said “It was hard to explain that what we do, the business that we are running is not just for money, and it is for the future of our entire generation. But when I am in an association that is very renowned, that is doing well, then even the parents, the people who are involved they are more interested.”
Secretary General of BECEDA Damchoe said that the association has helped bring together private ECCD proprietors to work in collaboration.
“Earlier, all the private proprietors were working individually in their own ways. But within a year of establishing the association, many proprietors have shared positive feedback, saying it has greatly benefited them. We aim to unite all ECCD centres under one platform, standardize their operations, and provide them with capacity-building support.”
Currently, there are over 70 private ECCD centres across the country, of which more than 55 centres are registered with the BECEDA.
Sonam Yuden
Edited by Phub Gyem
