Sindh’s first ‘Early Childhood Care and Education’ policy to be launched today

The School Education Department in collaboration with Plan International – international child development organisation - will be launching Sindh’s first Early Childhood Care and Education Policy (ECCE) on Saturday.

The policy focuses on holistic development of a child including basic needs for protection, food and healthcare and education. The policy has been aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and will play a pivotal role in a child’s transition from pre-primary to primary level and serve as a useful tool for pursuing clear and coherent action plan geared towards introduction and promotion of early childhood education in Sindh.

The ECCE is the outcome of collective efforts of child experts, early childhood specialists, practitioners, researchers, academicians and development partners representing various strands of School Education Department, NGOs and INGOs.

The policy efforts focus on the following key areas of early childhood care and education including Policy and Advocacy, Curriculum and Textbook, Learning Standards and Assessments, Teachers Education and Training and Parents and Community.

The officials claimed that by developing the ECCE, the School Education Department has successfully achieved a major milestone under the Sindh Education Sector Plan (SESP) 2014-18. 

Member National Assembly and Szabist’s chancellor, Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, will preside over the launch ceremony, whereas Sindh Minister for Education and Literacy Department Jam Mehtab Hussain Dahar, School Education Department Secretary Abdul Aziz Uqaili, Curriculum Wing Head Dr Fouzia Khan, Additional Secretary Schools and Provincial Coordinator for ECCE, Imtiaz Bhatti, Reform Support Unit Chief Programme Manager Faisal Ahmed Uqaili, UNICEF and Plan International’s representatives besides others will also attend the event.

The participants of the event include international development partners, civil society activists, education experts, academicians and media personnel.