The National Child Development Agency (NCDA) has successfully concluded the ECD (Early Childhood Development) Conference 2024, themed “Nurturing Tomorrow: Advancing Sustainable Early Childhood Development.” The conference focused on evaluating progress, identifying gaps, and renewing commitments to early childhood development.
Early childhood development is crucial, as research indicates that 80 percent of brain development occurs by age three, with nearly complete development by age five. This underscores the importance of effective early childhood programs to support children’s formative years.
A key intervention in this area has been the establishment of ECD Centres. In 2018, only 17 percent of children had access to these centres. However, with the introduction of community-based centres, enrollment has risen to 78 percent. Despite this progress, 22 percent of children still lack access, and issues such as inadequate equipment and poor sanitation persist.
As efforts continue to address these challenges, there are several actions the community can take. Establishing ECD centres in workplaces, supporting home-based centres through local governance, and encouraging the private sector and Civil Society Organisations to contribute are vital. Ensuring all children receive quality ECD is a collective responsibility, and it is essential for everyone to play their part in improving children’s health and development.