The Grande fête du préscolaire is just around the corner

Preparations are already underway to ensure the success of the major preschool celebration scheduled for August 10 of this year. Speaking to the press, the president of the World Organization for Early Childhood Education (OMEP-DRC) Michel Otto, explained that the goal of this celebration is to raise awareness among legislative authorities, the government, and the community about the importance of preschool in a person’s life. “Preschool encompasses everything that happens before elementary school—from birth up to age 6 in our country and age 8 in other countries. The goal of this major celebration is to advocate to decision-makers to support us in this effort,” he said. According to him, three key events are planned well in advance of the celebration date. “ “First, from August 5 to 7, we will host a comprehensive training session—behind the scenes of the school year’s start—for school principals, kindergarten teachers, promoters, and inspectors from across the DRC, with support from the General Inspectorate of the EPST, which will call on inspectors from each educational province to participate in this activity,” he added. He concluded, “From August 8 to 9, there will be a preschool symposium, which will be an opportunity to show participants that preschool is everyone’s business.” This year, the celebration will be held under the theme: “Preschool: Everyone’s Business and a Right for Every Child.” It should be noted that early childhood education involves several sectors, including Primary, Secondary, and Technical Education (EPST), Higher and University Education (ESU), Social Affairs, Defense, and many others. Deleine Diazolakana