The Reverend Father Timothy Kankam Dwumfour, Sunyani Municipal Director of Education, on Friday called on proprietors of Early Childhood Care and Development Centres to ensure the
physical, emotional, social and educational development of pupils.
He stressed that since early childhood care and development formed the integrated process made up of physical, psychological and emotional
components of a child and marked the critical stage of the child's development, more attention needed to be given at that stage to promote the
survival, growth, development and protection of the child.
The municipal director of education said this in an address read for him at the 14th graduation ceremony of Little Angels Early Childhood Development Centre in Sunyani where 27 nursery two pupils graduated to kindergarten one, whilst 23 kindergarten two proceeded to primary one.
Rev. Fr. Dwumfour stated that the Children's Act 1998, Article 560, demonstrated nation's commitment to the promotion of the physical, mental or psychological, social or emotional well-being of the Ghanaian child.
"This is the more reason why the government, as a stakeholder in education through the educational reforms of 2007 embraced the early
childhood education into the basic education system", he added.
He appealed to parents to show love and affection to their children and endeavour to provide them with basic needs such as security and imbibe in them a sense of confidence.
"Some parents have eyes for mistakes without providing corrective measures. This attitude is very distractive and can become a major setback
in the development of the child", he stated.
Rev. Fr. Dwumfour implored teachers to understand the needs and behaviours of children and to realize that since children were bound to
admire and imitate them they should present the best image to them.
"For instance, teachers should be easy to approach, kind, fair, tolerant and cheerful in appearance, while accepting children with different backgrounds and behaviour pattern. Teachers must keep brief and accurate records of children's interests, ability and achievements physically, mentally and emotionally and use them for assessing improvements", he added.
He implored teachers, parents and the community to work hand in hand to train and mould children.
Mrs. Comfort Gyamfi, Proprietress of the Centre, appealed to the government and the general public to come to the aid of the school to
complete the a classroom block housing nursery two, kindergarten one and kindergarten two.
She urged the Department of Social Welfare to help re-start courses for early childhood attendants and appealed to the director of the Ghana Education Service to give free in-service training and workshops to private school attendants.
Certificates of merit were presented to the young graduands.