Early childhood, which is defined as the period between the ages of one and eight years, is a period of rapid growth during which brain development reaches its zenith. Children are highly influenced by their environment and the people who are in their immediate vicinity during this stage.
Early childhood care and education (ECCE) is more than just a means of preparing children for the primary school years. To achieve this, it is important to focus on the holistic development of a child's social emotional, cognitive, and physical needs in order to lay a solid and broad foundation for lifelong learning and wellbeing. ECCE has the potential to develop future citizens who are compassionate, capable, and responsible.
As a result, ECCE is one of the best investments a country can make in order to promote human resource development, gender equality, and social cohesion, as well as to reduce the costs of later remedial programs and initiatives. For economically disadvantaged children, early childhood education (ECCE) is critical in compensating for disadvantages in the family and combating educational inequalities.
With the Education 2030 agenda, and in particular with Sustainable Development Goal 4, which aims to "Ensure that all girls and boys have access to high-quality early childhood development, care, and preschool education so that they are prepared to enter primary school by 2030," UNESCO's approach is reinforced.