An assessment of the effectiveness of early childhood programs in rural communities of Zimbabwe: the case of Goromonzi rural district

Abstract

Early childhood development has in recent times become the key foundation for academic excellence across the globe. This prompted the undertaking of this study which sought to understand the effectiveness of early childhood development programs in rural communities in Zimbabwe: the case of Goromonzi rural district. Goromonzi district is approximately 30 kilometers North East of Harare and is mainly rural. The study used the qualitative research approach and the case study design in examining the phenomena. Focus group discussion and Interviews were used to gather data from participants within the district. These research instruments proved worthwhile as deep lived experiences of participants with regard to early childhood development was unearthed. Data was presented and analyzed using the thematic approach emanating from the research questions. The major finding of the study is that early child hood development in Goromonzi district is not uniform and exclusive to poor leaners. It is recommended that the government should intervene and bring sanity in the way early childhood development is managed so as to promote inclusion and parity among leaners as a prescription for their development.