December 12, 2003	Friday	Shawwal 17, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 11: Participants of a seminar on Thursday called for political commitment and enhanced budgetary allocations to achieve the goals set for ‘Early Childhood Education’.

The two-day National Policy Seminar on Early Childhood Education (ECE) concluded here with certain policy recommendations to achieve Education For All (EFA) targets, particularly with reference to children.

The seminar was organized by Unicef in collaboration with Unesco and education ministry. A large number of senior ministry officials, teachers, trainers, representatives of NGOs and donor agencies working in the filed of ECE, attended the event.

To effectively achieve targets set for ECE, it is imperative to bring together all stakeholders, including federal, provincial and district governments, and donors, the participants said.

They recommended an increase in the education budget from 2.2 per cent to 4 per cent of the GDP. They were of the view that 50 per cent of education budget should go to primary education.

Likewise, “at least 15 to 20 per cent of primary education budget should be allocated to ECE in line with EFA projections,” they recommended.

It was also observed during the seminar that provinces and district governments should enhance allocations for primary education and ECE. Donors should provide technical assistance and bear all costs of ECE teachers training.

According to the recommendations, the idea to explore possibilities of private sector funding along with introducing concepts like ‘adopt a school’ in the private sector should also be promoted.

Similarly, ‘Prep’ classes should be introduced in the existing school for the children above four years of age, the participants said, adding that for children under four years of age, ECE centres should be started. It was also recommended that the Madressahas should also be included in the ECE programme.

National curriculum should be developed by the education ministry in collaboration with the provincial curriculum bureaus, and it should be revised periodically.

With curriculum guidelines from the federal government, the districts should also develop appropriate learning material and text books for (Prep and Nursery classes).

The participants said the provinces should constitute provincial committees, headed by the respective chief secretaries, to achieve ECE goals.

A sub-committee under EFA forum was also recommended to be constituted, especially for ECE, comprising focal persons from relevant departments.