Early learning
Early learning
This paper addresses strategies that can make a difference for women’s and child’s rights: girls’ education. The paper discusses multi-channel learning as an educational strategy that attempts to overcome the traditional boundaries of the daily responsibilities of girls in developing countries through the careful design and combination of channels for girls to engage in learning. Through… Read more
Somatic changes including growth and development of the brain of a human being occur very early in life. Programmes that enhance early childhood development (ECD) therefore should be part of the national agenda. Cognizant of this fact, the Malawi Government together with development partners facilitated the establishment of community-based child care centres (CBCCs) which are… Read more
Recently, there have been publications of many reports and research findings which demonstrate robust linkages between early childhood programmes and improving the well-being and development of a child. This document emphasises the urgent need for investment in such programmes. These investments will ensure for improved health, nutrition, education, as well as acknowledgement of child rights… Read more
This newsletter presents brief summaries of several projects focusing on girls, gender sensitivity and early childhood development (ECD) from across Asian and Pacific nations. These projects include investigations of culture and gender in ECD, school transitions, access to ECD, and literacy. The gender sensitivity focus emphasises the benefits of quality ECD programmes for girls. The newsletter… Read more
This report examines an early childhood development (ECD) programme in Nepal and its impact, not only on young children, but also on their families and communities. It explores, in particular, the impact the programme has had on children’s transition to school, a significant issue in a country where many children never start school and where those… Read more
So, Early Child Development (ECD) is finally on the global policy agenda. A small group of prominent ECD advocates worked tirelessly to secure the wording of Target 4.2 of the Sustainable Development Goals which states that by 2030 countries should: ‘ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care and… Read more
Agreement on the Sustainable Development Goals signals that early childhood development (ECD) will be a priority focus for the twenty-first century. Explicit mention is made in SDG Target 4.2 which states that by 2030 countries should: ‘ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care and pre-primary education so that… Read more
This rapid review looks at the evidence on Early Childhood Development (ECD) models (including integrated approaches) in Malawi and in the Sub-Saharan African region, looking at the impact on child development and learning. Most of the evidence from Malawi focuses on Community Based Childcare Centres (CBCC) which are the main centre based model for ECD… Read more
To ensure the rhetoric of leaving no one behind becomes a reality, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) give rise to an important practical question: how can we monitor progress to ensure we know if we have been successful? As our new DFID-funded paper for HEART shows, it is vital that the commitment to leaving no… Read more
The debate between nature and nurture as determinants of early child development is over. Today, we understand that the two are inextricably linked. The degree of their interdependence—and the impact of this interplay on the developing brains of children—is even greater than we previously imagined. This knowledge has tremendous implications for how we design and… Read more
Children’s development and well-being are significantly influenced by their family and community environment, with poor and marginalised children facing a heavier burden of risk. This paper summarises emerging findings from the Young Lives longitudinal study of childhood poverty in Ethiopia, the state of Andhra Pradesh in India, Peru and Vietnam. It examines how children’s development is… Read more