The 2018 Asia-Pacific Regional Early Childhood Development (ECD) Conference and third Asia-Pacific Regional Policy Forum on Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) has kicked off. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli inaugurated the event amidst a ceremony here oday.
On the occasion, the Prime Minister said the early childhood development was one of issues of priorities of the government. "The constitution of Nepal has guaranteed holistic early childhood development for all children," he shared with the event participants, adding that the government would keep all necessary arrangements in place for their proper care, development and health.
According to the Prime Minister, Nepal understands that quality early childhood development will play critical role in its current goal to lead the country to sustainable development in newly federalized structure.
He went on to say that around 90,000 school-age children were enrolled during the recent nationwide school enrollment campaign in the country and how to retain them with guarantee of quality education was one of the top priorities and challenges of his government.
He expressed his hope that the conference would be successful in reviewing practices carried out by bodies concerned for early childhood development into the depth, further expanding the national and international network to this regard, strengthening mutual relations and presenting progress and achievements in the ECD sector effectively.
Also speaking on the occasion, Minister for Education, Science and Technology Giriraj Mani Pokharel informed that the conference will discuss knowledge exchange about new researches and use of preliminary child development at international level and about existing policies on preliminary child education and development.
The three-day event hosted by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology includes participation from around 700 high-level policy markers, government officials, development professional, researchers as well as representatives from organizations working in early childhood development, care and education from 40 countries in the South-Pacific region.
