About ECCE

Learning begins even before child walks through the classroom door. Comprehensive early childhood care and education (ECCE) aims to foster holistic growth, development and learning of children from birth to eight years of age.

“Care” includes attention to health, hygiene and nutrition within a nurturing and safe environment that supports children’s cognitive and socio-emotional well-being. While ”Education” in the early childhood years is much broader than pre-schooling, capturing learning through early stimulation, guidance and a range of developmental activities and opportunities. Support to parents and families is also important part of ECCE, as they are the primary carers and educators of their children. Young children’s experiences in the first years create the foundation for subsequent learning. Early childhood is a period of great potential for human growth and development, but it is also a time when children are vulnerable. 

Why is ECCE important?

• The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child recognizes basic human rights that children everywhere have the rights to survival, full development and protection from harmful influences, abuse and exploitation, and participation in family, cultural and social life. 
• The connections of cerebral neurons are formed during the first years of life. The child’s brain structure and emotional, social and physical development are influenced by his/her interactions with caregivers and home environment. Good nutrition, health and positive stimuli in early years support children’s development and learning, while their lack and a high level of prolonged stress due to neglect, abuse, etc. could cause abnormalities in brain development and lead to developmental delays and health problems that are difficult to compensate later in their life.
• Cost benefit analysis indicates that the highest return on investment in human capital occurs during early years, and investment in ECCE programmes is cheaper and brings long-term benefits that outperform investment in later stages of education and remedial skills development programmes.
• Attendance in good ECCE programmes prepares children for primary school and facilitates the home-to-school transition. School readiness helps reduce dropouts and repetition rates, which tend to concentrate in the first grade, as well as improve children’s learning outcomes. ECCE programmes focussing on children in disadvantaged and vulnerable situations (e.g. poverty, residence in remote areas, disabilities, gender discrimination, low maternal education) help ensure all children start school on an equal footing.
• ECCE programmes lay foundation for gender equality. Research in developing countries shows that girls who attend ECCE programmes are more ready for primary school, cope better and stay longer than girls who do not. Maternal education has the potential to act as a powerful lever for progress in child health and nutrition. Children born to more educated mothers are more likely to survive and less likely to experience malnutrition.