In light of difficulties faced by students in primary schools, and indications that school readiness (or lack thereof) was one major issue, the government vowed to considerably expand the ECE service provision in the country. The new policy thus plans for an extension of public ECE service provision by ensuring all primary schools have a “reception class”, i.e. a preschool class attached to it. The simulation model was then developed to anticipate the financial and operational requirements for the implementation of this new policy. The main challenges associated with it are the construction of the additional classrooms and the recruitment of (trained) ECE teachers.

As noted, unlike most simulations models, which are need-driven (like the Sao Tome example: the objective is expressed in terms of enrolment rates, and teachers, classrooms and other needs are calculated accordingly), this model is supply-driven : the projections are led by the expansion of the service provision; increases in enrolment are calculated as a result of this expansion.