Declaration to be tabled in cabinet in 2 weeks
PUTRAJAYA: The Putrajaya Declaration, aimed at advancing early childhood care and education (ECCE) in the Asia-Pacific region, will be tabled in the cabinet in two weeks.
Deputy Education Minister Datuk P. Kamalanathan said the declaration, which was adopted by 36 member states during the Asia-Pacific Policy Forum on Early Childhood Care and Education which ended yesterday, required the commitment of not only the Education Ministry but other ministries as well.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, attended the forum on Tuesday, where Rosmah delivered the keynote speech during the forum’s opening ceremony.
The Putrajaya Declaration believes that quality ECCE inside and outside home sets the foundation for future wellbeing and greater equity, particularly for disadvantaged children.
It regards early childhood, encompassing the period from conception to 8 years of age, as the foundation of sustainable development.
“Early experiences influence a child’s health and brain development, and also a broad range of skills, capacities and behaviours throughout the life course,” the declaration said.
The declaration comprises nine
Ahmad Irham Mohd Noor actions which focus on a wide range of early childhood care and education concerns ranging from the placement, implementation, design and development of integrated policies and programmes.
Kamalanathan said the declaration would be the driving force for Asia-Pacific countries to move towards a more inclusive, equitable and sustainable development of early childhood care and education.
United Nations Children’s Fund East Asia and Pacific Regional Office deputy regional director Wivina Belmonte
in Putrajaya yesterday. said the declaration was timely.
“Governments around the world have agreed on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) late last year and part of achieving such goals is the focus on pre-primary schooling for boys and girls.”
Belmonte said pre-primary education was important as the first 1,000 days of a child’s life was where the cognitive capacity was built.
“So, if you want to build good human capital, this (first 1,000 days) is a very important time.”