UNESCO's Early Childhood Care and Education
Access and Equity:
2000 Dakar Framework for Action:
1.Participating countries committed themselves to “expanding and improving
comprehensive early childhood care and education, especially for the
most vulnerable and disadvantaged children.”
2.Governments were particularly urged to expand equitable access to
quality early childhood services underscoring the importance of
instituting policy in favor of the poor.
3.Countries often promote alternative services for poor children with
limited or no access to mainstream early childhood services which can be
cost-effective and pedagogically innovative, but often raise concerns
about sustainability and quality. In cases where the government has
limited resources, a pro-poor policy can redistribute resources by
reducing state support for the more privileged.
4.Central governments must ensure an equitable distribution of resources
among different populations and especially those who live in the most
disadvantaged regions. This approach aims to expand access without
creating serious regional inequities. However, where there is universal
provision for a certain age group while the overall enrollment in other
age groups is low, this policy can create inequity.
5. Privileged children of the target age group benefit from state
investment, while poor children of non-target ages receive scant
government attention. A policy of universalization with targeting can minimize inequity where governments aim for universal access among the
target age group, but simultaneously prioritize the poor.
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I thought this section was worth posting here on my blog. It gave me so much insight and "food for thought" when it comes to how our own government allocates funds to early childhood care and education. How amazing though that inequality can happen even despite the best intentions? Is this what happens in our country as well?
-Beau
Great Post Beau,
ReplyDeleteI also did my blog on the same story as well. The story was amazing to read and unbelievable in this day and age.
Before reviewing UNESCO's website, I had no idea they were involved with so many global issues. In reading about different countries I have come to believe we are more alike than different in some aspects.
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