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In the wake of the annual United Nations Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organisation (UNESCO) Education for All Global Monitoring Report, many nations are altering their policies and funding to better provide for education in early childhood.
Education for All Global Monitoring Report [PDF 5.8MB] is available online.
World news
26 October
UN: Lack in early childhood education
26 October
UN says early childhood education is neglected critical first step in broader development
26 October
Africa: Early childhood care and education the forgotten link claims new report published by UNESCO
UNESCO’s Education for All Global Monitoring Report identifies a major lack in the education of young children around the world. The report estimates 77 million children are not currently in school. This is, notably, a decrease of more than 20 million since 1999.
The report recommends that providing more resources to the most disadvantaged children should be the ‘first step’ of a national early childhood care and education policy.
‘All the evidence around the world is that the returns to investing in early childhood program[s] are extremely high, particularly for the poor and disadvantaged but yet …. [they] are the least likely to be involved in these programs,’ said Nicholas Burnett, director of the report.
New Zealand
20 October
Early childhood centre quotas extended
In an effort to ensure at least 50 per cent of New Zealand staff members hold a recognised qualification, Education Minister Steve Mahary has extended the national deadline from the beginning of 2007 to the end of the same year.
Jamaica
7 November
JSIF hands over early childhood institution in Westmoreland
The Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) has provided more than J$7.3 million towards the construction of the New Roads Basic School, Eastern Westmoreland. JSIF Board Director Kirk Brown welcomed the opening of the school, describing education as ‘the surest strategic investment in ensuring lifelong learning, employability and personal [growth]’.
Seychelles
14 November
Cause for celebration
Bernard Shamlaye, Minister for Education, launched the archipelago’s second annual early childhood week, themed ‘Celebrate the Achievements in Early Childhood Development’.
Shamlaye connected a well-established early childhood education with strong development. He went on to celebrate the appropriateness of the week’s theme, given the nation’s celebration of 30 years of independence.
US
14 November
Celebrating books and reading
Celebrations are occurring all over the country for Children’s Book Week. The week was established to encourage children to develop a love of reading from an early age.
14 November
A call to action
A new documentary argues that the nation is not doing enough to ensure that every child is adequately prepared for learning at school. It calls for more funding on a national level and also asks parents to make sure their children are ‘drenched in words and pre-reading activities.’
Nigeria
14 November
Basic education designed to enhance skills acquisition – UBEC scribe
Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Professor Gidado Tahir, discussed the Nigerian Federal Government’s support of Universal Basic Education and a nine-year education program, encouraging individual states to fund the initiative.
Egypt
13 November
UNICEF: Early childhood care key to gender equality
UNICEF has requested governments to remember that early childhood is the most critical time to break the cycle of negative gender stereotypes which denies girls their right to education.
Dr Rima Salah, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director, spoke at the close of the United Nations Girls’ Education Initiative meeting in Cairo, emphasising that ‘Huge steps can be made to empower girls if we begin the movement for gender equality in those first years of a child’s life.’
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