Kiffa, Mauritania – A major campaign too boost preschool enrollment launched today in the Assaba region, aiming to reach families across the entire wilaya and underscore the critical importance of early childhood education. The initiative, spearheaded by the Réseau Petite Enfance (Early Childhood Network), seeks to increase awareness of preschool’s foundational role in a child’s educational journey and empower mothers to actively participate in their children’s progress.
The campaign arrives as Mauritania prioritizes strengthening its pre-primary education system,a key component of President Mohamed Ould cheikh El Ghazouani’s national agenda and being actively implemented by Prime Minister Mokhtar Ould Djay’s government.Officials say increased access to quality preschool will lay the groundwork for improved educational outcomes and contribute to broader national development. The campaign’s slogan, “L’éducation préscolaire est la meilleure voie vers la réussite de l’école républicaine” (“Preschool education is the best path to success in the republican school”), encapsulates this vision.
The launch event in Kiffa drew representatives from government, local authorities, and civil society organizations. Sid Ahmed Ould Mohamed Lemine Abdallahi Ould Ely,Deputy Mayor of Kiffa,expressed optimism that the campaign would “contribute to the betterment of the level of preschool education,the foundation of all development.”
Moustapha Ould Mohamed, representing the regional directorate of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Childhood and Family, praised the Réseau Petite Enfance’s ongoing support for the sector and its collaborative partnerships with government departments. Rakiya Mint Sidini,President of the Réseau Petite Enfance,emphasized the campaign’s alignment with President El Ghazouani’s directives and efforts to strengthen the national education system.
Zeinebou Mint Sidini, President of the Regional Forum of Civil Society Organizations, lauded the network’s consistent advocacy for preschool education and called for broad stakeholder engagement to advance the educational system. The launch ceremony also featured theatrical performances by children from the Réseau Petite Enfance, illustrating the benefits of preschool and the vital role of parental involvement.
Ali Ahmadou El Houssein, the hakem (district chief) of Kiffa, along with other administrative and municipal authorities and civil society actors, attended the launch. The campaign will now roll out across the Assaba wilaya, targeting families with the message that preschool is a crucial first step towards academic success.
