Education International Africa Calls for Action on Early Childhood Education
The 2024 Program Advisory Committee (PAC) and Network meetings commenced in Accra, uniting educators, policymakers, and advocates across Africa and beyond.
Dennis Sinyolo, the Regional Director of Education International Africa, remarked on the urgent need for quality early childhood education (ECE) as a fundamental human right. The meeting, co-hosted by the Danish Union of Early Childhood and Youth Educators (BUPL) and the Danish Trade Union Development Agency (DTDA), sought to address critical issues in ECE and reinforce the commitment to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Policy Guidelines for the promotion of decent work for early childhood education personnel.
Sinyolo highlighted that, despite some progress, the full implementation of these guidelines posed significant challenges. He called on governments to take responsibility for disseminating and realizing these standards, emphasising that "education, including early childhood education, is a public good and a fundamental human right." The importance of ECE was further reinforced through references to international agreements like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, urging attendees to recognize education as a cornerstone for individual and societal development.
During the meeting, Sinyolo pointed out the alarming teacher shortages in Sub-Saharan Africa, noting that the region needed to recruit 15 million new teachers to meet Sustainable Development Goal 4 by 2030. He stressed that the ECE sector was particularly under-resourced, with only 57% of pre-primary teachers trained to national standards, in stark contrast to 83% in Latin America. This disparity underscored the urgent need for investment in teacher training and recruitment within the ECE sector.
The gathering also featured the launch of the Go Public! Fund Education campaign, calling on African governments to invest in quality public education and ECE centres. This initiative aimed to ensure that every child had access to highly qualified teachers and supportive learning environments. The discussions at the meeting cantered on how to elevate ECE on the African Union and member states' education agenda, fostering a collaborative approach to tackle the challenges faced by the sector.
Gina Pancorbo, the Research, Policy, and Advocacy Coordinator of Education International (EI), shared valuable insights on the resolutions passed at the recent EI 10th World Congress. These resolutions underscore the collective commitment to advancing education globally. Participants at the Early Childhood Education Network meeting pledged to advocate for increased investment in education from African governments, emphasizing that no one should be left behind.
EI Africa joined hands with BUPL to relaunch the ECE network in the region. The network will enable EI member organisations to share knowledge, experiences, research evidence and strategies to advance ECE in the region.
In conclusion, Dennis Sinyolo urged all participants to advocate for increased investment in early childhood education. He emphasised the collective responsibility of African governments to prioritise education, stating that meaningful change in ECE could only be achieved through dedicated funding and commitment. Sinyolo's call to action resonated with attendees, reinforcing the belief that every child deserves a strong foundation for lifelong learning and a brighter future.
[Fri, 20 Sep 2024 11:30:59 +0000] | DIGG THIS
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