Support early childhood development plans: govt
Permanent and Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Vocational Training, Dr Ave Maria Semakafu (Right) exchange views with The Resident Representative of the Aga Khan Development Network in Tanzania,Amin Kurji(left) and second from left is Aga khan Uninvest Director,Joe Lugalla second from right Dr Kweku Bentic Vice Provost Global Aga khan Uninvest after open second International Conference on Children Devlopmet in Dar es Salaam yesterday.POHOTO | SAID KHAMIS
What you need to know:
- By funding such projects adequately, every child would have a fair chance at attaining growth and healthy development, according to the deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Vocational Training, Dr Ave Maria Semakafu.
Dar es Salaam. The government, civil society organisations, businesses and individuals have been exhorted to support early childhood development programmes.
By funding such projects adequately, every child would have a fair chance at attaining growth and healthy development, according to the deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Vocational Training, Dr Ave Maria Semakafu.
She was officiating at the second three-day International Conference on Childhood Development organised by the Aga Khan University’s Institute for Human Development in partnership with the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation and The Aga Khan Foundation yesterday.
“Early childhood development is the foundation of sustainable development for any nation,” she said.
Since its launch in 2015, the Institute for Human Development works to generate knowledge through basic and applied research.
That knowledge is applied to inform programmes and influence policy formulation and implementation in East Africa.
Themed ‘Early Childhood Development In Uncertain Times: From Awareness and Evidence to Commitment and Action’, the conference brought together researchers, educationalists and policymakers from around 30 countries.
They will discuss early childhood development and how well it can be approached to bear fruits.
In his opening remarks, Institute for Human Development director Kofi Marfo said the responsibility of children’s development rested on everyone; parents, the extended family, the community and the nation at large.
“We have a collective responsibility to create safe spaces for our children to play; safe water, good quality nutrition for our children to grow; health centres to take care of our children when they fall sick,” he noted.
According to Prof Marfo, the only way to strengthen the foundation for human development is for stakeholders to initiate interventions that will influence long-term changes in investments, policies and services.
He added: “Our future as a human society rests on the shoulders of our children. If we fail to build strong foundations for the successful future of our children, there’s no future to talk about.”
