ECD Policy Roundtable hosted by the Romanian Ministry of Education, Research and Innovation and ISSA, in partnership with UNICEF, OSI and the Consultative Group on ECCD
Investing in Early Childhood: The Most Effective Use of a Nation’s Resources
14 October 2009, Bucharest, Romania
The Policy Roundtable on Early Childhood Development (ECD) was organised by the Romanian Ministry of Education, Research and Innovation and ISSA in partnership with UNICEF, Open Society Institute, and the Consultative Group on Early Childhood Care and Development. The event was a curtain-raiser for ISSA's 2009 10th Anniversary Conference. Participants in the roundtable included leading policy makers and representatives of partner agencies from 14 CEE/CIS countries, as well as guests from other parts of the world.
The objectives of the Roundtable were to:
- Inform and support decision makers, by examining the rationales for investing in quality ECD services for all young children.
- Identify compelling examples of successful investments in integrated early childhood services and public/private partnerships that helped countries expand and improve their services; explore what made these investments in early childhood services more effective than others.
- Discuss possible funding mechanisms and how to mitigate negative effects of the current global financial downturn on children’s services.
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Formulate recommendations which may be used to advocate for increased investments in accessible, high quality, equitable early childhood care and education.
Presentations from senior experts from diverse fields associated with early childhood development were followed by discussions in which delegates were invited to react to points raised by the experts and to relate them to their knowledge of their own country contexts. Delegates showcased examples of successful investments in integrated early childhood service approaches, as well as models of successful private-public partnerships.
A Communiqué with outcomes of Roundtable discussions, including a set of recommendations, was presented at the ISSA Conference and will be later circulated to a wider audience of regional and national stakeholders.
HOSTS: Ministry of Education, Research and Innovation, Romania and ISSA
Link to keynote speeches presented via video by Nobel Laureate, Prof James J. Heckman, at the Roundtable and the ISSA Conference
Nathan A. Fox, Distinguished University Professor, Department of Human Development, University of Maryland (USA)
Presentation is available here
Stuart Shanker, D Phil (Oxon), Director, the Milton & Ethel Harris Research Initiative, Distinguished Research Professor of Philosophy, Pscychology, & Education; Director, The Canada-Mexico-Cuba Research Initiative; Co-Director, The Council of Human Development; Past President, The Council of Early Childhood Development (USA)
Presentation is available here
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