Promoting quality education for all.

The Story

Early childhood education is essential to the healthy growth and development of children. Inclusive early childhood education and care from birth onward provide the foundation for all learning.

Early childhood education is essential. Evidence from neuroscience shows that during the first 1,000 days between pregnancy and a child’s second birthday is when there is the most significant brain development. Unfortunately, pre-school typically begins at age 3 or 4 -- and sometimes later. This makes it essential to incorporate high-quality early childcare and play-based learning programs into communities across the globe to benefit the youngest children but also to benefit the older siblings that could potentially have to drop out of school to take care of them. Youth that are enrolled in early childhood education programs are more likely to continue their education (enrolling in primary school), and are less likely to drop out of school or repeat a grade later. 

Advancing Early Childhood Development: From Science to Scale, 2016, Lancet Series