Tackling health issues: Early childhood education centre launched in capital

Speakers hope it will become repository of technical, human and research resources on ECED

ISLAMABAD: An advocacy and research-based institute on Early Childhood Education and Development (ECED) was inaugurated here on Wednesday.

The Centre of Excellence will focus on issues such as good health, a safe and nurturing environment coupled with the right kind of mental stimulation for a child.

“It is hoped that this body will play its role to lay down a roadmap for Pakistanis as to what are the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding and what food is nutritious to consume,” said Minister of State for Federal Education and Professional Training Balighur Rehman at the inauguration ceremony held at the Academy of Educational Planning and Management (AEPAM).

The Parwaan E-9 National ECED Centre of Excellence is a joint collaboration between the Ministry of Education and Children’s Global Network.

Around 35 per cent of Pakistan’s population consists of children aged under 14, while 30 per cent of them are in their early years. According to a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) report, there are eight million children under five years of age in Pakistan who are unable to meet their development potential due to absolute poverty.

The minister also stated the government was considering an increase in the higher education budget from Rs60 billion to Rs70 billion.

Speaking on the occasion, nutrition expert Dr Tabish Hazir shared facts and figures about malnutrition in the country.

“Rates of malnutrition are unacceptably high in the country because it also includes the rise in population which is inter-related with poverty,” he said.

Hazir remarked that lack of public awareness at national and community level was impacting nutrition, which was ultimately affecting social and economic development of the society.

ECED founding member Mehnaz Aziz said that the centre would enable progress of the education sector of the country by research and sharing of local practices to build demand for ECED.

The office has been opened in AEPAM building and will start functioning in a few days.

Unesco Director Vibeke Jensen said E9 countries were working extensively on children’s education and in the process were learning from each others’ experiences.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 8^th, 2015.