When is the right time for a child to start education?

During the 22nd edition of the Africa Arise and Shine Conference, under the discussions on how Africa can embrace the wind of change in education, early childhood development had a significant portion of the debate. Panelists who shared their insights were Prof. Alfred R. Bizoza, Dr Shandon Hart, and Dr Solange Uwituze. Everyone among the panellists got time to discuss the questions like 'When is the right time for a child to start education?' and 'Why is it necessary to teach a child in an early childhood stage?' 

Dr Solange Uwituze started on the old narrative we have towards education: "Before, we used to think that education begins when a person can speak, but both Science and the Bible show us that education starts from when the baby is conceived. 

She referenced the Bible in the book of Jeremiah about how God knew us when we're in our mother’s womb. "Today, professionals tell us that pregnant women should pray, sing and talk good words to the child.  Babies are already seeing, hearing, making sense of what's going on around them, even in the womb," said Dr Solange Uwituze

Dr Shandon Hart mainly stressed the need to think broadly about what education for children means. "For children who have turned to be agents of change, peaceful and prosperous, research has significantly indicated that it is more than the education they have received in school but also the values and knowledge they got from their families. 

He said that Faith and moral values are essential factors in childhood development that lead to nations' prosperity. 

He concluded by saying that "We need to build healthy families to build a supportive environment for our children from the time they are born, and this emotional support is critical even when they become adults." Dr Shandon Hart noted that "All school systems should be based or added on family-based solid values the child gets even before going to school".

On the question of the necessity of teaching children at an early stage, Prof. Alfred R. Bizoza based on the Bible and stressed that "God created us in His image, which is an indicator of the power built-in us with resilience. We should know and understand that parents and teachers only sharpen what God gave the child. We only teach a child what is good and evil.”  

Prof. Alfred R. Bizoza told the viewers that "it is essential to start teaching children early to significantly sharpen and awaken the knowledge and capabilities built-in them, as early as possible. Because the sooner, the better." 
 
Professor Alfred Bizoza stated three main frameworks that help us grow and sharpen our children: Skills and knowledge derived from the family, the second from attending the usual school education system, and lastly, the skills and wisdom a child gets that is faith-based from church. 

The broader reflection on this sphere of education was around repositioning Africa in the phenomenon of globalization through early childhood development, STEM and Research and Innovation.