Assessing the Role of the Department of Social Welfare in Early Childhood Development Centres Operations in the Wa Municipality

Abstract

Early Childhood Development Centres play a crucial role in the development of children in society as they serve as the foundation upon which the future of society is built. In Ghana, these centres are under the ambit of the Department of Social Welfare, which has the responsibility of ensuring that the right environment is provided for the development of children until they reach the required age for the mainstream educational system. This study sought to Assess the Role of the Department of Social Welfare (DSW) in the operations of Early Childhood Development Centres (ECDC) in the Wa Municipality of the Upper West Region, with specific focus on how it sets out in fulfilling its mandate. The DSW is a state institution of Ghana which is mandated to ensure that Day Care educational centres operate according to standard practice and procedure as per sections 115 to 120 of the Children’s Act, 1998 (Act 560). Despite this, very little is known about how the Department has discharged this responsibility. Using a qualitative research approach, the study employed a convenience sampling technique to select 87 Early Childhood Development Centres and purposive sampling technique to select 3 respondents from the Department of Social Welfare in the Wa Municipality for the study. Data was collected from headteachers/operators, teachers of the sampled Early Childhood Development Centres and 3 officials of the Department of Social Welfare. The main methods of data collection were semi-structured interviews, and direct observation. Data was first organised and then analysed using thematic content analysis around specific major themes and sub-themes. The study revealed that there is a general non-compliance with the standard protocols on Early Childhood Development Centres’ operations arising out of inadequate supervision and inspection by the DSW. Again, the study revealed some day care centres never went through the legal processes before they were granted permit to operate. The study recommends the strengthening of monitoring and enforcement mechanisms of the DSW in order to identify unregistered centres for sanctions. Lastly, the DSW should advocate for increased resources and funding for the effective regulations.