I was not able to talk with my international contact this week, so I went to UNESCO's site and researched further: Access and Equity related to child care and education.
Being from a medical background and family I have always thought learning at least started at birth, but after becoming a Child Development instructor and working in the Obstetrics field I now know it begins during the prenatal period of life. However, the 1990 Jomtien Declaration for Education for All stated that learning begins at birth. Because it is now realized that early childhood is the foundation to future learning and success, in 2000 the 2000 Dakar Framework for Action agreed about the importance of early childhood and included the development of early childhood care and education as the first of its six main goals.
The main idea of the program and its goals is that participating countries dedicate themselves to expanding and improving comprehensive early childhood care and education, targeting the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children. One of the big issues related to quality care and education for children was the accessibility to them. Part of the program urges governments to branch out and support equitable access to those services by implementing better policies directed to underprivileged children and families.
Normally, privileged children of the target age group benefit from state and federal funding and resources, while poorer children and those in the non-targeted age groups receive little to no government assistance. UNESCO supports the implementation of a universal policy with targeting, which they believe would minimize inequities. I also feel that cities and governments should equally distribute its resources among the entire population and especially towards those who live in the most disadvantaged regions, which I believe would help end the cycle of less than and low achievement. The ideas and approach of UNESCO is to create better access without creating another type of inequity, but we must understand we all have the right to equal care and education and if we see an inequity in either we are obligated to fight for change.
I too did not hear from my friends in other countries so I looked into the same site. I personally believe learning and development begins while still in utero. Children are constantly learning and developing even we can't physically see. I think it is wonderful the Dakar Framework for Action has seen Early Childhood Education so important to make it one of their six goals. In addition, I think it is wonderful how you included the fact that no matter who it is, we all have the right to equal child care and if we are not receiving that than we need to fight to ensure everyone is offered a quality program.
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