11 Feb 2024

It is possible that a village pre-school of approximately 50 children can earn the proprietor P6 500 per month, says Assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development, Mr Aubrey Lesaso.

Briefing Parliament last Wednesday, Mr Lesaso said villages varied greatly and that some remote pre-schools did not charge high fees because of the market in their areas. He also noted that some parents were not able to afford even the lowest fees.

The assistant minister said most of the regulations governing pre-schools were for the protection, health and safety of learners, adding that other policy guidelines supported learning and education and were not intended to burden new businesses.

He said where an entrepreneur was not able to fulfil the requirements to operate but the safety of children was not compromised, they were often allowed to operate on a temporary license so that the business could continue until they fulfilled all requirements.

He said government had not exempted itself from the requirements of the policy, as the same policy guidelines were used to measure a public pre-school’s suitability as that of a private school.

He said the minimum standards required for a centre to give quality service included acceptable hygienic conditions, physical structures and the quality of the environment as well as the quality of food and adequate education and development materials.

He noted that it was a requirement that young children should be able to undertake outdoor activities under a shade, especially during hot weather. 

He added that the policy did not specify the type of shade required and that a shady tree could be suitable in summer heat, but inadequate during cold and wet weather.

He said the provision of appropriate toilets was applicable to both private and public pre-schools, and that adult toilets were not suitable for small children. 

He said it should be noted that some children were from homes with no appropriate toilets, and that it was part of their curriculum to develop skills on the proper use of a toilet with attention to personal hygiene.

Mr Lesaso also said the ministry was  aware that mothers and female caregivers were the ones who usually took care of children, and that the programme helped them to participate in other economic activities for the benefit of their families. 

He added his ministry introduced the programme into the mainstream to help parents who wanted to work to do so. He said government also supported playgroups and pre-schools under communities, NGOs and other voluntary groups who complement government in the provision of the programme, especially in places where there were no primary schools.

Specially Elected MP, Dr Unity Dow, had asked the minister whether he appreciated that a village pre-school of approximately 50 children earned the proprietor, on average, P6 500 per month, and if he did not consider the current regulations governing pre-schools over burdensome on these small businesses. 

She also wanted to know why the regulations only applied to private businesses, but not government pre-schools as well as why he did not consider a large shady tree to be sufficient protection from the sun, but considered it pleasant at the cattle post and in the homestead. 

Dr Dow also wanted to know why the requirement for toddler toilets applied only to private pre-schools, but not government pre-schools, hospitals, malls, or homes. 

The Specially Elected MP asked the minister if he realised that the provision of day care and pre-school services was particularly important to women who otherwise could not work, as they were generally the primary child care providers. Ends