Early childhood education: ‘A national framework should be developed’

There is confusion regarding early childhood education (ECE) and standards are being compromised.

These views were expressed by federal education minister Balighur Rehman at the launch of a report titled ‘Magnifying the Gaps: Situational Analysis of Early Childhood Education
and Development in K-P and Sindh,” said a press release.

The research study was carried out in selective districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and Sindh.

It was undertaken by Parwaan E9 Early Childhood Education and Development Centre of Excellence, an initiative of Children’s Global Network Pakistan, in collaboration with the education ministry, Sustainable Development Policy Institute and Open Society Foundations at Academy for Educational Planning and Management.

According to the study, majority stakeholders (teachers and parents) were of the opinion that unless schools provide a favourable environment, ECE would remain a wishful agenda.

It reveals that much of the demands for low–cost private schools originate from parents who are not satisfied with government schools.

The report recommends that the state clearly must devise a policy on early childhood development and provide incentives to students of poor families.

SDPI Senior Research Fellow Dr Shehryar Toru discussed different connotations of ECE, limitations in public education institutes regarding the promotion of child-centric activities at pre-primary level and situation of ECE in K-P and Sindh.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 5^th, 2015.