Experts have stressed the need for proper funding and monitoring of early childhood education as a means of tackling the growing social vices as well as check the production of half-baked graduates in the society.
The experts who spoke at the first National Retreat of the Early Childhood Association of Nigeria (ECAN), held in Lagos, argued that studies have shown that failure to provide quality early childhood education limits children’s futures by denying them opportunities to reach their full potential.
According to them, it also limits the potential of countries, robbing them of the human capital needed to reduce inequalities and promote peaceful and prosperous societies.
In his address, the Acting Head of Department, Early Childhood Care and Education, (ECCD) at Lagos State University of Education, Dr Aboluwarin Oyenike, said quality pre-primary education is the foundation of a child’s journey as every stage of education that follows relies on its success.
The president of ECAN, Professor Babajide Abidogun, identified poor implementation of curriculum, lack of proper monitoring, funding and training of teachers as some of the challenges facing early childhood education in Nigeria.
He said the retreat offered opportunities for stakeholders to address some of the challenges.
Also, a deputy director at the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board, Hilda Twins, said the government is collaborating with relevant stakeholders to boost early childhood education in the state.
“The essence of this retreat is to collaborate. With collaboration, there are going to be more impact in the area of outcome in building capacity of teachers and the pupil as well. With early childhood education, most of the vices we have in the society today can be averted. It also has an effect on the economy of the nation. The future of education in the country will be better if we get early childhood education right,” she said
A representative of the Development Research and Projects Center (dRPC), Augusta Keneboh, canvassed for the implementation of relevant policies including the National Policy on Safety, Security and Violence Free Schools which acknowledges the need of Safeguarding in all Schools
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