Early childhood care and development (ECCD) centres remaining unutilised in Namgyalchhoeling and Sang-Ngag-Chhoeling Gewogs were discussed in the recently concluded Dzongkhag Tshogdu (DT) in Samtse.
The reason cited was the lack of facilitators.
The members shared their worries about the facilities going to waste if kept unutilised. Seven ECCD centres in Samtse do not have a facilitator yet.
Sharing the concerns of the people to the House, the gup of Namgaychhoeling and Sang-Ngag-Chhoeling said advocacy training for the parents were also carried out in anticipation of the ECCD centre functioning over a year ago.
“We have opened an ECCD centre in every chiwog. This was the target of the former government. Even after constructing the centres, two of the centre does not have facilitators,” Ratna Bdr. Ghalley, the Namgaychhoeling Gup, said.
“It has been over two years since we procured equipment for the centre. There are chances of the equipment getting spoiled. The people questions when the centres will open since it is already established,” Kalyan Pradhan, the Sang-Ngag-Chhoeling Gup, said.
However, the dzongkhag education sector says their hands are tied. The Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC) is not approving the recruitment of new ECCD facilitators.
“Since 2017 we have seven new ECCD centres. Whenever we write to the education ministry, we are always told that the RCSC has not granted permission. That is why we haven’t been able to recruit new facilitators,” Karma Sonam Chophel, the Chief Education Officer, said.
The problem is expected to worsen, as 12 new ECCD centres will be established in Samtse this year. The House decided to immediately apprise the RCSC to approve the recruitment of new ECCD facilitators.
Sherub Dorji
