The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) emphasizes the pivotal role of pre-primary education, asserting that it yields the highest return on investment among all education sub-sectors. UNICEF advocates for increased investment in pre-primary education, underscoring its importance in fostering intellectual growth within a developmental framework that nurtures social, emotional, and physical development for children aged three to five.
According to a statement on UNICEF’s website, equitable pre-primary education is identified as an effective strategy for promoting economic growth. Despite its proven benefits, pre-primary education receives the smallest share of government expenditure compared to primary, secondary, and tertiary education. The statement emphasizes that quality pre-primary education establishes a robust foundation for learning and enhances the effectiveness and efficiency of education systems.
UNICEF emphasizes the need for a balanced approach in efforts to scale up access to pre-primary education, cautioning against compromising quality. Quality, it contends, is influenced by various factors, including teachers, families, communities, resources, and curricula. The organization advocates for investing in quality simultaneously with the expansion of education systems to prevent the exacerbation of education inequities.
Highlighting the slow and inequitable progress in access to early childhood education globally, UNICEF notes that vulnerable children are disproportionately excluded from quality pre-primary education, despite its potential transformative impact on their lives. The organization urges governments to adopt policies committing to universal pre-primary education, with a specific focus on prioritizing the poorest and hardest-to-reach children at the outset of the journey toward universality.
UNICEF stresses that children enrolled in at least one year of pre-primary education are more likely to develop critical skills for success in school, reducing the likelihood of grade repetition or dropout. Furthermore, it contends that these children, as adults, contribute to peaceful societies and prosperous economies. The organization concludes by highlighting global evidence supporting the developmental advancements facilitated by pre-primary education, urging concerted efforts to ensure no child is left behind in accessing this foundational stage of learning.
