Call for coordination, investment for early childhood development

KATHMANDU: Stakeholders have called for greater coordination and investment for holistic development of children aged below eight, in a national conference in Kathmandu on Wednesday.

The national conference on early childhood development (ECD) jointly organised by the Ministry of Education (MoE) and the National Early Childhood Development (ECD) Council, with the support from the UNICEF stressed the need as early childhood is a formative period for overall personality development.

The conference was held on the occasion of ECD Week being celebrated across the country.

Speaking at the programme, Education Minister Giriraj Mani Pokharel stressed that potential of no child should be wasted and for that all need to make an effort from their early age, a joint statement issued by the MoE, National ECD Council and UNICEF stated.

Minister Pokharel also assured the government’s commitment to make sure that children in Nepal get the right start. He added that the conference would be a positive step for early childhood development, according to the statement.

Brain development of a child is most rapid in the initial years of life; hence, proper nutrition as well as an environment to learn in this phase help children do better at school, be healthier and active in their participation, according to health researches.