Kumi DEO Urges Stronger Support for Nursery Education

Kamuli — Kumi District Education Officer Sarah Adong has called on government, parents and communities to fully embrace nursery education, saying early childhood learning is a crucial foundation that prepares children to transition smoothly into primary school.

She made the remarks during the graduation ceremony of Kanyum Children’s Education Center, where she urged stakeholders to prioritise and protect the early years of schooling.

Adong challenged teachers to uphold professional ethics and ensure that their actions reflect the best interests of the learners under their care.

“Nursery school education is here to stay and we must not only prepare for it but embrace it,” she said, commending Kanyum Children’s Education Center for its leadership in early childhood education.

She noted that early childhood is a transformative stage that shapes cognitive, emotional and social development.

“Research shows that children who undergo nursery education become more productive and competitive adults,” she said, adding that nursery schooling builds early speech, literacy and numeracy skills, and acts as a vital bridge between home and formal education.

Adong encouraged private schools and teachers to work closely with district education offices to seek technical guidance, improve learning environments and innovate to make schools more attractive and child-friendly.

“You need to maintain integrity, be role models and use education to transform communities,” she added.

Emma Opesen, CEO of Kanyum Royal Digital Photo Studio Enterprise, applauded private schools for complementing government efforts, especially during the recent teachers’ industrial action when private institutions kept children learning.

He appealed to government to make nursery education compulsory, saying restricting it to those who can afford it entrenches inequality.

He also called for nursery teachers to be placed on the government payroll and recognised as scientists for their role in nurturing young minds.

School director Mark Opolot reassured parents of quality services, saying he established the institution as a social service in honour of his parents, who believed in the power of education long before the introduction of universal schooling.

He urged parents to recommit to responsible parenting so children can grow into productive and responsible adults.