Use Networking in ECD implementation

Accra, June 2, GNA - Two experts on Early Childhood Development (ECD) on Wednesday called for the strengthening of network systems among service providers, ministries and co-operating partners to ensure the success of implementation programmes.

They also called for national policies on ECD to be established in addition to a national council responsible for all aspects of ECD. Mrs Evelyn M. Simfukwe, Senior Curriculum Development Specialist of Zambia and Mr Rinos Simbulo, Executive Director Mulumbo Early Childhood Care and Development Foundation also in Zambia were presenting a paper on: "Integrated Early Childhood Care and HIV/AIDS: Policy and Financing" at the African Conference on ECD in Accra.

The weeklong conference on the theme: "Moving Early Childhood Development Forward in Africa." More than 300 delegates from 39 African countries and the donor community are attending.

The expert who put the paper together said major stakeholders should come up with memorandum of understanding on ECD implementation and the strengthening of family values.

On the way forward, the Experts called for consensus building among stakeholders in identifying the most appropriate institutional arrangement.

"Fully involve all stakeholders in policy formulation and implementation thereby facilitating acceptance at the implementation level.

"There is also the need to harmonise and facilitate co-ordination of strategic interventions, plans and programmes among stakeholders, the experts said, citing the Zambian Malaria Foundation, which according to them thrived on those mechanisms.

The Association for the Development of Education in Africa, (ADEA) the Government of Ghana, The World Bank, UNICEF, WHO, UNICEF including other institutions are organising the conference, which would make an input to the New Paertnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) meeting scheduled for Algiers in June.