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Early Childhood Development as Entry Point for Social Inclusion of Roma Children
Gordon Alexander Senior Advisor Economic and Social Policy UNICEF CEE/ CIS
Zagreb, 30 November 2010
By way of Preface: in times of budget austerity….
• a commitment to ‘fairness’ ( the worse off shouldn’t be further disadvantaged…)
• Children who are at risk of ‘falling behind’
• No child growing up in a family that has less than living wage
• Challenge the rise in xenophobia
UNICEF
Key messages: Core concept: We need good policies for all children
- plus additional support for marginalised children
Access to education for Roma critical but often too late
ECD spans 0-8 years (not just = to pre-school)
ECD an essential but not sufficient condition for social inclusion
0 1 4 8 12 16
AGE OF CHILD
SensingPathways
(vision, hearing)
LanguageHigherCognitive Function
3 6 9-3-6
Months Years
Source : C. Nelson, in From Neurons to Neighborhoods, 2000
Latest science on Early Childhood:The most rapid period of growth and change in human lifespan…
UNICEF
CRC Committee General Comment 7 on Young Child
states failing on obligations to this age-group children have rights from very beginning of their lives… special vulnerability of very young to poverty and discrimination, undermining capacities and well being call for integrated approaches supporting parents as well as children
Components of an inclusive early childhood system
Early Learning
Health, Mental Health & Nutrition
Family Support
Special Needs/ Early
Intervention
Families’ access to social and child protection services to ensure children’s basic needs met & they have nurturing and stable relationships with caring adults
Early identification, assessment and inclusive services for children with special needs, disabilities, or developmental delays
Child-seeking and culturally responsive health services address developmental & medical needs of young children and mothers
Early care and education opportunities in stimulating environments where children are supported to develop confidence, self-esteem, language skills & what they need to succeed in school and life
Source: adapted from ECD Systems Working Group, Minnesota, 2007
There are successes and good practice…(Partnership REF, OSI, ISSA, UNICEF, WB, RRC….EU…..)
• Health and education mediators (Romania)
• Parenting ‘ readiness for school’ (B&H)
• CIP Pre-schoool (Serbia)
• Reform of teacher training KG …..
Yet mostly fragments of good practice, .. Some guidelines here… training material there. No comprehensive approaches that address child wellbeing in full , or have gone to scale
Elements of a comprehensive strategy
• a broad approach: Pre- and post-delivery, 0- 3 age group,
• at least 2 years high quality pre-school or ECD for all Roma children
• Community based initiatives ( especially engaging Roma women)
With special attention the 2 ‘transitions’ : family to preschool/ECD, from these to school…
UNICEF
Supported by other critical interventions:
• Setting bold targets for reduction of child poverty
• Strong links with equity in education: supporting disadvantaged children through the system
• Links to employment/ housing (remembering ECD creates jobs…)
Not only services that will need to develop, but new familylife/behaviors and activities will need to emerge. Communities must be ready to address some rather large issues (e.g. status of women)
How much can be put in place in our settings? For Roma children?
• Start where services are in place (eg outreach from health system to families)
• Make certain all elements are in place, in the same place ….
• Remains responsive and flexible
What will determine success?
• ECD as integral part Social Inclusion strategies • Accountability in addressing discrimination in social
services • Openness to experimentation and learning • Gathering and sharing evidence ( DG Employment
intiative with UNICEF)• State Champions…• Money….
UNICEF
Need for a sense of urgency
Progress is not fast enough
Shift incentives: A Fund for ECD?
Advantages of a ‘big bang’ approach
will also have a major impact on other equity issues plaguing the EU: migrants, minorities, the disabled and intolerance.
New benchmarks & results for Early Childhood Development of marginalised children Roma children
• Policies, • Community outreach• Access to quality services,• Investments• General context
Mainstream ECD (Report Card 8)
Belgian EU Presidency Roma Platform meeting December 13th 2011 focusing on ECD
UNICEF