According to him, under Article 25-A the state is under no obligation to mainstream and fully recognise the significance of Early Childhood Development. Children between ages 3-5 are deprived of their right to education.
This right is further undermined when children below the age of five exit from public schools to private schools and it is this phenomena that is being analytically explored. Early childhood environment and personalised engagement of teachers with children below the age of 5 have a significant impact on a child’s development and well-being. Crafting of public policy on early childhood care is the ultimate necessity in the present times.
The majority stakeholders according to the study (teachers and parents) were of the opinion that unless schools provide a favourable environment, early childhood education would remain a wishful agenda. With regard to ECE in government schools, the parents repeatedly made reference to untrained teachers. Health provisions and practices in children between the age of 0-3 years in both provinces was also measured through a set of indicators such as skilled and unskilled birth attendant, child immunisation and breastfeeding.
According to the report, much of the demands for low–cost private schools originate from parents who are not satisfied with the government schools. The report says that there is noticeable increase in parental willingness to pay for better learning opportunities for their children. This is evident, in the growth of low cost private schools enrollment amongst lower socio-economic segments of society. Parents prefer private schools due to quality education, learning environment and teaching material. Inadequate teacher strength, insufficient dedicated space for children of age group 3-4 years, overcrowding and high teacher absenteeism in rural Sindh. The report recommends that the state must devise a policy on Early Childhood Development. The report further recommends that the state must provide incentives to students of poor families.
These incentives can be in form of healthy meals, Early Childhood Education (ECE) classroom should be established in existing schools. The report also emphasised that there should be a dedicated female teacher for the students of the age of below 5. Early Childhood interventions by the government must be supported by the active support of community. The school providing ECE to poor communities (rural areas) require more funds.