N$14m centre for Rocky Crest

THE WINDHOEK Municipality has chosen a joint venture option for the establishment of an N$14 million multi-purpose and early child development centre in Rocky Crest.

At its monthly meeting last week, the Windhoek City Council chose the joint venture option ahead of two other options, and has already identified a number of potential partners for development. The City Council turned down a sole provider and an outsourcing option.The early childhood development centre is established under the City of Windhoek’s (CoW) Early Childhood Development Policy and is aimed at addressing inequalities with regard to the quality of service provision in this field.Day care for children of working parents remains largely in the private sector, provided largely in centres run on a for profit basis which normally puts such services out of reach of normal families.As a result, the centre is planned to be a place where children under seven years old and their parents can receive integrated services and information, and will address the needs of communities. The centre will also raise awareness of aspects of child development, social and health care.The N$14 million early childhood development centre makes provision for a day care and pre-primary facility for ten babies, fifteen toddlers and 110 children between the ages of four and six.Provision has also been made for a feeding programme for all the children which will include breakfast and lunch, as well as a facility for an in-service training centre for day care staff to upgrade their skills in care and education of young children.