At least two Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) centres in Moyo District have received new classroom blocks worth Shs210 million, in a move aimed at expanding access to foundational learning for children in rural communities.
District leaders say the initiative complements the government’s human capital development agenda outlined in the National Development Plan IV, noting that early childhood education remains a critical but often underfunded priority within district planning frameworks.
The newly constructed centres — St. Charles Lwanga ECCE Centre and Gwere Parents ECCE Centre — were built with contributions from local communities, including land, bricks, sand, and stones.
The founder of St. Charles Lwanga Nursery and Primary School, Saviour Iwa Muu, said the school, located in Ipanvre Village, began in 2011 under challenging conditions.
“The school began in 2011 in makeshift structures and has grown to enrol about 85 children. Initially, the nearest ECCE centre was located about six kilometres away, making it difficult for young learners to access early education,” Iwa Muu said.
He added that the new classroom block will significantly improve the learning environment for the children.
The intervention, supported by Community Empowerment for Rural Development with funding from Kidshare Foundation, also provided the centres with three-stance VIP latrines, play materials, and furniture for both children and staff.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, Godwin Ocen, the Lead for Youth and Education at Community Empowerment for Rural Development, said the project demonstrates the importance of community partnerships in advancing early childhood education.
“The construction of the ECCE centres reflects a strong model of community ownership and partnership. Parents and community members contributed local materials and also provided site supervision throughout the construction process,” Ocen said.
Representing the District Education Officer, Wilson Edema urged parents to prioritise early childhood education by enrolling their children in ECCE centres.
“There is a need for parents to enrol their children in ECCE schools so that they can receive holistic education from an early age,” Edema said.
Meanwhile, the Secretary for Education and Social Services for Moyo District, Terry Silton Anyanzo, applauded Community Empowerment for Rural Development for supporting community-founded ECCE centres across the district.
“We appreciate CEFORD for supporting community-founded ECCE centres across Moyo District, which are helping disadvantaged communities gain access to early childhood education,” Anyanzo said.
The Resident District Commissioner for Moyo District, Geoffrey Filbert Ocailap, said the government will continue creating an enabling environment for development partners to support service delivery.
“Government will continue to provide an enabling environment for implementing partners to support efforts aimed at enhancing service delivery in the education sector,” Ocailap said.
District leaders also urged development partners to expand the initiative in 2026 by targeting additional communities committed to strengthening early childhood development across the district.
