The New Apostolic Church has embarked on a project to construct an early childhood education centre at Matenda primary school in Mansa district.
This project, which is being spearheaded by the New Apostolic Church Relief Organisation (NACRO), a development arm of the church, is expected to offer early childhood education to a number of children in Matenda area.
The New Apostolic Church Relief Organisation (NACRO) Country’s Programme Coordinator, Alfred Chushi, disclosed that a total of 700 thousand has been set aside for the project.
Mr Chushi indicated that the New Apostolic Church constructed the entire Matenda primary school which has a number of structures such as classroom blocks, computer laboratory, teachers houses and a staffroom.
He said that the church has continued to support the school from inception so as to give an opportunity to children in rural areas to access education
“We are here to supplement government efforts in the education sector and so far this school which we constructed is now offering education to over 150 learners at primary level,” he said.
Mr Chushi revealed that the school will further add another 1 by 3 classroom block so as to increase school spaces.
“Our overall goal is to make this school a boarding Secondary School considering that in this area there is no Secondary School hence learners are focused to cover long distances,” he noted.
And Mansa District Education Planner, Patson Chipili has commended the New Apostolic Church for deciding to put up an early childhood education centre at Matenda primary School.
Mr Chipili explained that government is promoting early childhood education in all government schools as it can be seen in the number of early childhood education teachers being employed whenever there is teacher recruitment.
He stated that Mansa district currently has early childhood education centres in 64 schools out of the 114 total schools in the district.
Mr Chipili pointed out that early childhood education offers a great opportunity for learners to advance their education as they would have been exposed to education at an early stage.
“The church is doing a very good job here and as education authorities we can just encourage them to continue shaping lives of children especially in rural areas like Matenda,” he said.
The New Apostolic Church has joined other partners such as the World Bank and UNICEF who are putting up early childhood education centres in Luapula.
Under the World Bank, 44 early childhood education centres are under construction while under UNICEF 19 are being put up.
