Investing in early childhood care and education yields lifelong benefits
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Loading... - Kelly Dyson
- 04 Oct 2024
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Investing in early childhood care and education yields lifelong benefits, with research showing that 90% of a child's brain development occurs by the age of five. Despite this, global access to early childhood education remains highly unequal, with 89% of children in high-income countries benefiting from early education, compared to only 35% of children in low-income countries.
The International Congress on Brain Sciences, Early Childhood Care and Education, hosted by UNESCO and the Babilou Family Foundation, brought together nearly 1,500 participants to address the critical role of early childhood education in shaping future generations. The event emphasized the need for increased investment in early childhood care and education, both in policy and practice, with UNESCO's Assistant Director-General for Education, Stefania Giannini, noting that early childhood education yields a 13% return through improved health, economic outcomes, and social cohesion.
The Tashkent Declaration, adopted at the 2022 UNESCO World Conference on ECCE, calls on governments to allocate at least 10% of their education budgets to ECCE, and Giannini stressed the collective effort needed to ensure equitable opportunities for all children. Christophe Fond, Chief Executive Officer of Babilou Family & Babilou Family Foundation, emphasized the complexity of the role of ECCE educators and called on governments to prioritize both neuroscience and sustainable education.
The event featured presentations from various countries, including Uzbekistan, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Cambodia, and El Salvador, highlighting their strides in expanding ECCE and emphasizing the importance of linking research with real-life applications. The Congress concluded with a resounding call to action, emphasizing that the future of global education depends on the prioritization of early childhood development.
