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World leaders urged to invest in early childhood development for lifelong results

Early childhood development

If you want children to succeed at school, you don国产视频檛 just need good facilities and great teachers. You need to start them learning at an early age 国产视频 a VERY early age.

Early childhood development (ECD) 国产视频 starting from birth 国产视频 can have a huge impact on a child国产视频檚 subsequent education, health and even their earnings as an adult.

It国产视频檚 key because science shows that positive early stimulation can have a profound effect on brain development. Nutrition is also vital because poorly nourished children are less likely to do well in school.

That国产视频檚 why World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim and UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake called on world leaders this week to act quickly and invest wisely in ECD and nutrition programmes to reach children before primary school age.

It国产视频檚 why the Hilton Foundation聽continued to show leadership on ECD by highlighting a $50 million early learning initiative in eastern and southern Africa.

And it国产视频檚 why the children国产视频檚 charity 国产视频 is focusing on universal access to quality ECD programmes to ensure that all children have a healthy and equitable start in life in order to reach their fullest potential.

The announcements by the World Bank, UNICEF and the Hilton Foundation were made at an ECD event during the bank国产视频檚 Spring Meetings in Washington, DC.

Mr Kim also warned of the problem of stunted growth that affects one in four children under the age of five.

He said:聽国产视频淭he time has come to treat childhood stunting as a development and an economic emergency. How will countries compete in what will certainly be a more digitalised global economy in the future if a third or more of their children are stunted?

国产视频淥ur failure to make the right investments in early childhood development is condemning millions of children to lives of exclusion.国产视频

He told the event the world 国产视频渘eeds a Paris moment国产视频 for ECD 国产视频 referring to the Climate Change Conference in France last year.

Globally, millions of children under the age of five are at risk of never reaching their full developmental potential.

Nearly half of children aged three to six don国产视频檛 have access to pre-primary education 国产视频 and in Sub-Saharan Africa, 80% are not enrolled in pre-primary programmes.

Mr Lake said:聽国产视频淲hat we are learning about all the elements that affect the development of children国产视频檚 brains 国产视频 whether their bodies are well nourished, whether their minds are stimulated, whether they are protected from violence 国产视频 is already changing the way we think about early childhood development. Now it must change the way we act.国产视频

The new alliance will see World Bank Group and UNICEF inviting governments, development partners, civil society, foundations and the private sector to make ECD a global and national development priority.

They want to support country-led efforts to invest in nutrition, early stimulation and learning, and protection, and engage with communities to drive demand for high-quality ECD services for every child.

The Washington event saw a video message from tennis star Novak Djokovic, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for ECD.

He said: 国产视频淢illions of children around the world are at a disadvantage from the outset国产视频 They will never reach their full potential.

国产视频淚nvesting in early childhood development is one of the smartest investments a country can make. With the right start every child can achieve their full potential.国产视频

Hilton Foundation President Peter Laugharn also highlighted the $50 million African investment in ECD at a an event on investing in children国产视频檚 futures held by the Global Business Coalition for Education. On the role of the private sector, he said:聽国产视频淲e can be helpful with the experimental, the things that governments are hesitant to provide. We welcome partnerships with business and welcome their particular skills.国产视频

Whereas the education target of the Millennium Development Goals concentrated solely on getting every child into primary school, the new Sustainable Devlopment Goals for 2030 include ECD and early years education.

国产视频, the charity behind A World at School, is working to raise awareness about importance of ECD and encouraging increased investment.

国产视频 President Sarah Brown said in January:聽国产视频2016 will be a big year for ECD and there are many experts waiting to give their voices to support the case. Investing in a tiny person is the way to get big dividends from our future citizens. Watch this space.国产视频

Early childhood is a critical period in a child国产视频檚 life. Gaps in development during this time can have a life-long detriment on agirl or boy国产视频檚 physical and mental health, behaviour, learning and success.

In terms of getting ready for school, early learning initiatives such as pre-primary education programmes increase a child国产视频檚 school readiness and primary school achievement. They also decrease the likelihood that a child will repeat a grade or drop out.

Early learning programmes prepare girls and boys for academic success in primary school and beyond.

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