Lack of early learning will rob millions of children of their future says UNICEF

Musamat Murshida Sultana, aged six, at a UNICEF-funded pre-primary school in Satkhira Sadar, Bangladesh Picture: UNICEF/Gilbertson VII

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A lack of early childhood development will deprive hundreds of millions of children of the chance to fulfil their potential, UNICEF has warned.

The vast numbers of children missing out on learning in their early years is hugely concerning, said the United Nations children国产视频檚 agency in its annual State of the World国产视频檚 Children report.

UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake said: 国产视频淒enying hundreds of millions of children a fair chance in life does more than threaten their futures 国产视频� by fueling intergenerational cycles of disadvantage, it imperils the future of their societies.

国产视频淲e have a choice 国产视频� invest in these children now or allow our world to become still more unequal and divided.国产视频�

The report said that 国产视频渓earning deficits begin early国产视频�. In the 28 countries or areas with available data for 2014, fewer than half of children aged between three and five were developmentally on track in literacy and numeracy.

Four-year-old Oluwabukunmi Falayi writes at his desk at home in Abuja, Nigeria Picture: UNICEF/Gilbertson VII

UNICEF said: 国产视频淚n early childhood and primary school, children acquire the foundational skills that allow them to develop problem-solving capabilities, flourish in secondary education and later succeed in employment markets.国产视频�

It added: 国产视频淓ducation can provide children with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in life. It is associated with increased incomes, reduced poverty and improved health.

国产视频淏ut for education to play this role, it must begin with early childhood development and continue with quality learning opportunities that provide all children, especially the most disadvantaged, with a fair chance to thrive.国产视频�

The report painted a bleak picture of what is in store for the world国产视频檚 poorest children if governments, donors, businesses and international organisations do not accelerate efforts to address their needs.

UNICEF pointed out that significant progress has been made in saving children国产视频檚 lives, getting children into school and lifting people out of poverty.

But this progress has not been even or fair, the report said. The poorest children are twice as likely to die before their fifth birthday and to be chronically malnourished than the richest.

Children in a classroom in Guinea with new education kits Picture: UNICEF/Hyams

Across much of South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, children born to mothers with no education are almost three times more likely to die before they are five than those born to mothers with a secondary education.

And girls from the poorest households are 2.5 times more likely to marry as children than girls from the wealthiest households.

UNICEF said 国产视频渘owhere is the outlook grimmer than in sub-Saharan Africa国产视频�. At current trends, more than half of the 60 million primary-age children will still be out of school in 2030.

Sadly, the number of children who do not attend school has increased since 2011 国产视频� and a significant proportion of those who do go to school are not learning.

About 124 million children today do not go to primary and lower-secondary school. Almost two-fifths of those who finish primary school have not learned how to read, write or do simple arithmetic.

Children at a pre-primary class听in Cameroon for refugees from the Central African Republic Picture: UNICEF/Rich

UNICEF warned that听unless the world focuses more on the plight of the most disadvantaged children, the statistics will still be horrific when we reach 2030 国产视频� the target date of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Based on current trends, 69 million children under five will die from mostly preventable causes, 167 million children will live in poverty and 750 million women will have been married as children by 2030.

In a blog today for UNICEF, Gordon Brown 国产视频� the UN Special Envoy for Global Education 国产视频� said a set of short-term, practical proposals are needed to support children in edication:

• Invest in children 国产视频� 国产视频淲e must focus on getting every child into school and also ensure that quality of learning is consistently high.国产视频�
• Education Cannot Wait fund 国产视频� the fund for education in emergencies 国产视频渃an address the needs of the estimated 75 million children affected by crises and protracted emergencies国产视频�.
• Uphold children国产视频檚 rights 国产视频� 国产视频淎n International Children国产视频檚 Court, along with a Children国产视频檚 Commissioner appointed to each country, is vital.国产视频�
• Listen to young voices 国产视频� 国产视频淭he United Nations General Assembly should host a session for children and young people, preferably before its next session.国产视频�

Read his blog in full here.

And read the full UNICEF report here.