Snapshot of Past Events
1. The Association for Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) Biennale: Libreville, Gabon
March 27 – 31, 2006
Theme: What makes effective learning in schools, in literacy and in early childhood development programmes?
Key Audience: Ministers of Education from across Africa and cross-sectoral Ministers invited by ADEA Working Group ECD; Development Partners; International NGOs and Coalitions.
This was the first time that ECD was included in the main agenda of the Biennale, therefore was a key advocacy opportunity for ECD in Africa- and an important follow-up to the regional ECD conference that was held in Ghana in 2005. The three themes of the conference were a) Literacy and Non-Formal Education; b) Effective Schools; and c) Early Childhood Development. Given that the main audience of the Biennale is Ministers of Education from across Africa, the ADEA Working Group ECD agreed that the slogan for the ECD programme would be - ‘Schools Ready For Children – Children Ready for Schools’.
The CGECCD supported the development of an advocacy poster & brochure related to this slogan (See English and French Posters Attached: ‘Schools Ready For Children – Children Ready for Schools’ including English and French brochures ). CG partners in other regions might be interested to adapt and / or translate this brochure and poster, especially as you are planning for national and regional launches of the GMR on ECCE – please contact the Secretariat if you would like to use it.
Each of the conference themes had time for full plenary presentations, and these ECD presentations included: 1. Ensuring a Supportive Policy Environment (Agnes Akosua Aidoo) 2. Early Childhood Care and Education in Sub-Saharan Africa: Towards expansion of coverage and targeting of efficient services (Alain Mingat).
Through the follow-up ECD parallel sessions, diverse presentations from across the continent stimulated discussions and debate related to the sub-topics of::
One of the main challenges of the conference was that outside the plenary presentations on each theme – other sessions ran parallel, therefore the opportunity to ‘make the ECD links’ with these other themes was missed. Nevertheless, the ECD session were very well attended, and through informal networking it became clear that there is increasing interest from education advocates in the benefits of investing in informal and formal ECCE programmes – including parenting education, family literacy programmes, to improve children’s access, retention and susccess in school. Following a provocative plenary presentation from Namibia calling for a return to mother-tongue languages as the foundation for improved and ethical education in Africa – one international education activist identified that the links with ECCE become even clearer! These are vital advocacy springboards to build on as we prepare for a year of ECCE advocacy in 2007 following the GMR on ECCE, October 26th 2006!
For copies of all plenary and parallel session presentations as well as the Summary Power Point Presentations of Recommendations see the ADEA website www.adeanet.org
For a CG Snapshot Report of the Biennale including lessons learned and implications for the CG - see CG Snapshot of ADEA Biennale, Gabon, 2006.
2. Measuring Early Child Development: April 26 -28, 2006 in Vaudreuil (Quebec)
A sharing of experiences and discussion of best practices and evidences concerning measurement in early child development including the presentation of the use of the Early Development Index (EDI) as a potential candidate for a global standard. This was attended by the CG Secretariat as well as various CG Partners.
In brief, there seemed to be agreement on the need for measures to drive policy/advocacy, that as much emphasis should be put on inputs as on outcomes, measures need to reflect diversity and context and that we
will not be able to move policy if we don't map inputs and outcomes. The EDI is an interesting and useful tool--the mapping is fascinating and it has helped to keep ECD on the public agenda in Canada and proved useful in other places. However, how does one use this tool in places where school enrolment is very low? Should we look at parent reporting? Move to a grade 1 readiness test? What if a community is not improving? What is the responsibility to the community once the data has been collected?
Given the pointed discussions/questions, there was a shift in terms of being more cautious in terms of promoting EDI as a global measure at this point given i) it has not been used extensively in majority world contexts ii) it is difficult to imagine how this would be implemented in majority world contexts on various levels and then used as a basis for comparison between countries (in particular if you are making major adaptations to the tool).
A follow-up meeting would be useful to give equal time to different views and perspectives encouraging a full debate and discussion.
See program, presentations and poster sessions including a poster session, Ensuring National Quality ECCE Profiles: Towards Ensuring Diversity Reliability prepared by the Consultative Group Secretariat and based on Robert Myers Quality paper prepared for the GMR on Quality.
Upcoming Events
1. Launch of the EFA Global Monitoring Report on ECCE – sets off a year of international advocacy for EFA Goal No. 1: Early Childhood Care & Education! The CG Secretariat is working in close collaboration with the Global Monitoring Report Team to ensure that the launch of this report kick-starts a year of unprecedented lobbying and advocacy for EFA Goal No. 1: 'Expanding and improving comprehensive early childhood care and education, especially for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children.'
However this is only possible through collaborative commitment to focused action, internationally, regionally and nationally. What can we, as CG Partners and Associates do?
As mentioned earlier, in addition to attending the International Launch, October 26th in New York – that is part of this year’s CG Annual Consultation program:
CG EFA Goal No. 1 Advocacy Materials
For the International Launch:
The CG Secretariat and Executive Board will have password access to the GMR Report two weeks prior to the international launch. Therefore this will give us the opportunity to:
- Be well prepared to brief CG Partners and Associates and invited guests attending the Annual Consultation in New York, in preparation for the discussion forum following the media launch
- Draft a CG Press Release to be finalized at the Annual Consultation, and submitted on the day of the launch.
NOTE: This press release can be used by all Partners and Associates to translate and disseminate via the media in their regions
|
Materials for Regional and National Events, Nov 2006 - Nov 2007 Suggestions to date include: a. Publish a revised update of the CG’s ‘Eight is Too Late’ Briefs for translation and distribution at regional and national events throughout 2006 / 2007, including as specific info packs for media; b. Develop key message / messages – that can be transferred into posters, flyers, badges, screen-savers, calendars etc etc – that can also be translated & printed locally, e.g modification of the ADEA Biennale Poster and Brochure – ‘Schools Ready For Children & Children Ready For Schools’; c. Publish a Coordinators' Notebook on the theme of Quality ECCD, by Dec 2006 – as the CG’s stimulus for discussion and debate in this international year of EFA Goal No. 1 Advocacy Advocacy Strategies a. Identify international, regional and national champions for EFA Goal No 1; b. Develop specific info packs for the champions; c. Develop resources to be made available via multi-media – powerpoint presentations; and video clips (e.g from international launch presentations and discussions); printed briefs; audio recordings of presentations for radio release etc
|
- Are these the kind of materials that are needed? - What specific strategies can we use to ensure the EFA Goal No. 1 message is heard, seen & felt – internationally, regionally and nationally?
Your Suggestions most welcome! |