Children’s minds blossom over the first eight years of life, making this time a prime learning opportunity. Kids will likely reach their full developmental potential and actively participate in economic, social, and civic life if they are healthy, safe, and learning well in their formative years.
The Early Childhood Education Program is seen as furthering sustainable development. Here are ways in which early childhood education promotes growth:
- Cognitive Development
Children can acquire critical thinking and problem-solving through early childhood education. They learn through play, investigation, and experimentation, stimulating their brain development, improving their memory, encouraging language development and communication, and enhancing their creativity.
- Social Development
Early childhood education aids in the development of social skills. Moreover, the ability to navigate social interactions and form relationships with others. They learn to appropriately express their needs and emotions, develop empathy for others, and comprehend cultural differences, resulting in stronger relationships.
- Psychological Development
This education aids children in recognizing their emotions, resulting in a greater understanding of themselves. It helps children develop self-respect, resilience, and tenacity.
- Behavioral Development
Early childhood education provides a secure foundation for good behavior in children. They learn proper behavior, manners, and safety regulations, which are crucial to their development.
Obstacles To Ensuring Access To Early Childhood And Care Education
The following are the hindrances to early childhood education:
- Policy Fragmentation
When meeting the comprehensive requirements and protecting the rights of families with young children, ECCE regulations and services in many countries are patchy at best. It is especially difficult for national governments with few resources, weak institutions, and poor governance.
- Inadequate Government Support
There is clear evidence that non-state players influence policy creation and execution, and non-state provision of ECCE is expanding in many settings—non-government organizations primarily staff Preschool and kindergarten classrooms.
- Consistent Under-Investment
Nationally and regionally, pre-primary education receives an average of 6.6% of total education spending. Preschool and elementary education continue to get the smallest share of international aid budgets.
- Inadequate Government Oversight Of The Industry
Most nations need ECCE-specific rules and standards. Regulations rarely establish quality assurance procedures; even when they are, they rarely prioritize outcomes.
What Are The Solutions To These Obstacles?
The transformation of ECCE requires political will and ownership. The evaluation conducted by UNESCO emphasizes the efforts of several nations and provides insight into what is needed to effectively increase ECCE systems’ capacity. Find these solutions explained below:
- Diversifying Access
Expanding ECCE services requires more funding and a legal framework to support the initiative. Some countries have implemented novel ECCE delivery systems, such as mobile kindergartens with instructors and educational and recreational materials, to bring pre-primary education to children in outlying areas.
- Improving Both Quality And Applicability
ECCE curricular frameworks aim to provide children with a well-rounded foundation for learning and equip them with the required skills.
- Enhanced Management and Stakeholder Involvement
Various forms of government have been established in multiple nations. An integrated system and a divided system are the two most common approaches.
- Use Funding To Steer ECCE
To provide ECCE at a reasonable cost, it is necessary to strengthen domestic public financing. Several different departments provide ECCE services. Thus, there must be a distinct distinction of who pays for what. Earmarking funds from economic activity and other sources is one kind of innovative funding. Efficient and timely monitoring of programs and child developmental milestones is made possible by system-level action to improve the availability of data gained through assessments.
- Rally Support And Solidarity From Countries Around The World
The World Conference on ECCE is a chance to bring together organizations with a common interest in improving the care and education of young children.
Conclusion
Early childhood education is essential and fundamental to a child’s development as a whole. It fosters a child’s cognitive, social, emotional, and behavioral development. From a human rights standpoint, extending high-quality early learning is crucial to achieving the right to education within a framework of lifelong education.
