Activities
The overall goal of the child development and education initiatives is to make it possible for children to participate effectively in learning activities that are appropriate for each stage of childhood. This will enable them to develop mentally and socially, so they can become creative, responsible members of society. To achieve this goal, UNICEF aims to work with the government and communities to provide: • a safe, secure and stimulating environment for the child. These objectives will be achieved through the projects outlined below. Early Childhood Development (ECD) Project Existing development programmes prioritize young children’s survival and physical growth, and there is a lack of national initiatives which address the mental development of young children. The government has undertaken this ECD project in co-operation with UNICEF and other partners. It is designed to develop and implement interventions that empower families with the aim of raising survival rates and giving children the best possible start in life, by promoting both physical growth and mental development. Intensive District Approach to Education for All (IDEAL) Project This project is a part of the Primary Education Development Programme (PEDP) of the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education. Its aim is to ensure high quality education through improved teaching and learning methods, better supervision, and participatory planning and community involvement at local level. The project started in one district in 1996. Now it covers 9 million children who attend 36,826 schools in 36 districts. Basic Education for Hard to Reach Urban Children (BEHTRUC) Project This project aims to provide 351,000 urban working children in six divisional (provincial) cities with two years of non-formal education. This would bring them up to the educational level of children in Grade III, and enhance their life skills. The project targets children aged 8-14, who are engaged in hazardous working conditions in urban areas. Achievement and future courses of action Over the past decade, the gender gap in primary school enrolment has been eliminated. However, the quality of education — particularly teaching and learning in the classroom, and learning outcomes — has become a matter of concern. The IDEAL project has popularized an educational approach called Multiple Ways of Teaching and Learning (MWTL), and this has been incorporated into the non-formal, basic education being offered to urban working children. The involvement of the community, parents, employers and children is crucial for achieving universal primary education. Communication and social mobilisation have become important for the success and sustainability of the programme.
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