REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA Presentation at The Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa Southern Africa Regional Conference on ECCDE ‘Quality Matters’ 3-5 December 2013

Government Ministry of Education Science, Vocational Training & Early Education Ministry of Health Ministry of Community Development Mother & Child Health Ministry of Local Government & Housing Ministry of Gender & Child Development Ministry of Home Affairs Ministry of Agriculture & Livestock Other government departments Cooperating partners i.e. UNICEF, USAID, DFID and others International Organizations i.e. Plan International, World Vision, Save the Children, Child Fund, OSISA, and others Civil Society Organizations i.e. ZANEC, Mulumbo ECCDE Foundation, Children Sentinel Trust Zambia, DAPP, and others Faith Based Organizations Private i.e. Private Universities, Zambia Pre-school Association, Early Childhood Teacher Training Association of Zambia, and others Government Ministry of Education Science, Vocational Training & Early Education Ministry of Health Ministry of Community Development Mother & Child Health Ministry of Local Government & Housing Ministry of Gender & Child Development Ministry of Home Affairs Ministry of Agriculture & Livestock Other government departments Cooperating partners i.e. UNICEF, USAID, DFID and others International Organizations i.e. Plan International, World Vision, Save the Children, Child Fund, OSISA, and others Civil Society Organizations i.e. ZANEC, Mulumbo ECCDE Foundation, Children Sentinel Trust Zambia, DAPP, and others Faith Based Organizations Private i.e. Private Universities, Zambia Pre-school Association, Early Childhood Teacher Training Association of Zambia, and others Key Players in ECCDE

Progress in ECCDE

1960’s Minimal focus in ECD Independence No specific ECCDE policies Landmark Change: Welfare centre’s managed by local authorities

1970’s Education reforms/health policy Government involvement in ECCDE Continuing health promotion through growth monitoring, immunization and nutrition Landmark Change: Education reforms – Focus on Learning policy document, immunization and nutrition services

1980’s Formal training of ECCDE teachers Government financing ECCDE training Introduction of ECCDE training in govt. teacher training colleges Landmark Change: ECCDE teacher training, social protection programs and financing

1990’s Inclusion of ECCDE in policy Provision of ECCDE centres by stakeholders/ Private sector Teacher training and development of materials Landmark Change: National Education Policy incorporates issues of ECCDE

2000’s Collaboration & Coordination in ECCDE activities Quality assurance in ECCDE services Increased policies with ECCDE components across Ministries Landmark Change: Development of child assessment tools & Early Learning Development Standards

2010 – Present Integration of ECCDE ECCDE incorporated into various pieces of legislation Development of national ECCDE curriculum frameworks, instructional materials & teacher training at university level Landmark Change: Government to finance/provide pre-school education

Limited mechanism for coordination and collaboration among ECCDE providers and stakeholders Limited financial resources & high poverty levels Poor mechanisms for early identification and intervention for children with special needs Delay in policy development processes Limited capacity among administrators to implement ECCDE programs Limited mechanism for coordination and collaboration among ECCDE providers and stakeholders Limited financial resources & high poverty levels Poor mechanisms for early identification and intervention for children with special needs Delay in policy development processes Limited capacity among administrators to implement ECCDE programs Challenges

Annexing ECCDE/pre-school education in primary school Strengthen integrated ECCDE service provision Increased financing of ECCDE programmes Enhancement of social protection legislation and programmes Enhanced policy implementation towards social cash transfer schemes for vulnerable families Annexing ECCDE/pre-school education in primary school Strengthen integrated ECCDE service provision Increased financing of ECCDE programmes Enhancement of social protection legislation and programmes Enhanced policy implementation towards social cash transfer schemes for vulnerable families Recommendations

Thank you!