Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. November 26, 2009. At a National Validation Workshop, opened by H.E Frenesh Mekuria, State Minister of Women's Affairs and held at Ghion Hotel, 24-25 November 2009, the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Women's Affairs, UN and NGO partners jointly expressed their commitment to mobilize support for the formalization of the draft Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) policy and to integrate the related services in respective sector plans
The ECCE National Policy Framework, Strategic Operational Plan and Guidelines were discussed in context of the ECCE four pillars of parental education, health and early stimulation (birth to 3+ years), pre-school/Kindergarten (4 to 7+ years) and non-formal school readiness (eg. Child-to-Child). To increase understanding of these pillars, presentations were made on Ethiopia-based experiences and lessons including a community-based early childhood care and development initiative supported by RATSON and the Child-to-Child Initiative being supported by UNICEF as well as other initiatives from Eastern and Southern African countries.
The draft National Policy Framework reviewed during the meeting was developed following the 2007 study on the status of ECCE in Ethiopia and is in keeping with the National Education and Training Policy developed in 1994. Also reviewed was the Strategic Operational Plan and the Guidelines prepared by the National ECCE inter-ministerial task force with contribution from all partners/stakeholders. The Task Force is led by the Ministry of Education.
"This policy framework can serve as a springboard from which other sector policies for young children may be strengthened, developed or reviewed particularly in areas of health and nutrition, education, water and sanitation and social services. These sector strategies are crucial in providing standards and guidelines for ensuring provision of quality services for all children in their earliest years", said Ato Dagefa Abdi, on behalf of the State Minister of MOE, H. E. Fuad Ibrahim.
The State Minister of Women's Affairs, H. E. Ferenesh Mekuria in her keynote address called upon all participants to use the opportunity of the workshop to accelerate completion of the draft documents so they could be adopted and begin to make a difference to children's lives.
After refining and enriching the policy documents, guidelines and plans, the participants concluded by making specific commitments as a way forward to address the needs of all children aged birth to seven years: Development of a Memorandum of Understanding by the MOE, MOH and MoWA; Launching and public dissemination of the policy documents; integration of the policy within sector plans and programmes eg. Early stimulation programmes within the Health Extension Programme, Parenting education within the Adult Education Programme; piloting of the new interventions; capacity development for service providers and parents and establishment of partnership and collaboration among stakeholders.
State Minister of MOE H.E. Fuad Ibrahim, thanked the participants, the inter ministerial Task Force and the organizing committee for the important foundation laid for giving the youngest Ethiopians the best start in life.
"We are fully committed to take the Policy Framework and the implementation of ECCE to the higher level of priority. There is a demand for ECCE service in rural areas. Communities, like women, youth and farmers associations, if organized can use the schools – primary schools compounds for preschool activities" We have to organize ourselves to embrace and implement the new ECCE Policy Framework and to develop Plans of Actions at both National and Regional levels."
For further information please contact:
Yacob Habte, ECCE focal person, Ministry of Education
Tel: +251-11-553133, E-mail: yalerebo@yahoo.com
Maekelech Gidey, Education Specialist, UNICEF Ethiopia
Tel: +251-11-5184044, E-mail: mgidey@unicef.org
Dr. Kerida McDonald, Chief, Communication Cluster, UNICEF Ethiopia.
Tel: 0115184 000, email: kmcdonald@unicef.org
