96% of Ngoma’s Young Children Now in Early Childhood Centers

Of the 38,954 children of ECD age in the district, 37,456 are currently attending 1,083 centers. These include nine model ECDs, 946 home-based centers, 52 community-run centers, and 76 attached to primary schools.

Ngoma District Mayor Niyonagira Nathalie said the centers not only support children’s intellectual, physical, and social growth but also give parents time to engage in other productive activities.

“We are proud of the role ECD centers play in helping our children develop,” Niyonagira said. “This term, 37,456 out of 38,954 children expected to start school are enrolled in ECD centers.”

Assumpta Ingabire, Director General of the National Child Development Agency (NCDA), commended the district for mobilizing parents to send children to ECDs, but emphasized that efforts must continue to reach the remaining 4 percent of children still at home.

“While 96 percent enrollment is impressive, it is not enough. Among those enrolled, only 45.6 percent attend selected home-based centers,” Ingabire said.

Nationwide, Rwanda has seen dramatic growth in early childhood education. The number of ECD centers rose from 4,010 in January 2018 to 31,638 by June 2024. Enrollment increased from 256,000 children to more than one million over the same period.

Officials say the focus now is on reaching full coverage and maintaining quality in both model and home-based centers. They stress that ECD programs are crucial for laying the foundation for lifelong learning, social development, and community engagement.

As Rwanda continues to prioritize early education, Ngoma’s experience demonstrates how coordinated efforts between local authorities, parents, and community-run programs can significantly improve access to quality early learning.