Early Childhood Care and Education
The programme for Early Childhood Care and Education consists of three projects:
1. “Better Parenting and IMCI Project”
- Past Activities (2004-2006):
- UNICEF GAO supported the holding of a ground-breaking workshop on Early Childhood Care (ECD) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, organized by the Ministry of Education and the National Commission on Childhood that shared examples and good practices from other countries. Participants recommended that appropriate interventions be adapted to the Saudi context and used to enhance ECD practices and support in the Kingdom.
- Planned Activities for (2007-2009):
- the integrated management of childhood illnesses initiative (IMCI) with a particular focus on exclusive and complementary breastfeeding, nutrition, micro-nutrients, psychosocial development, child abuse, child injury, early detection of disabilities, etc through the on-going Saudi IMCI initiative
- the improvement of legislation, policies, guidelines and standards for the Saudi IMCI initiative
- the development of a better parenting/parental education programme
- the baby friendly hospital initiative (BFHI)
- awareness-raising and media campaigns targeting Saudi parents as well as other caregivers in order to increase their knowledge, attitudes and behaviour related to child care practices.
2. “The Pre-school/Basic Education Project”
UNICEF’s support will include sharing of experiences from similar initiatives within the region, networking, awareness raising campaigns, research, technical assistance through training and workshops, as well as advocacy for:
- including vulnerable and excluded groups of children in pre-school and basic education, with a particular focus on the inclusion of children with disabilities in primary education
- setting standards for pre-schools well adapted to the Saudi context
- curriculum development for basic education, both in content and methods using experiences such as global quality education, life-skills based education, etc
- introduction of life skills/civic education (e.g. LSBE) including human rights, child rights, health education, accident and injury avoidance, etc into the curriculum for adolescents
- promotion of the child friendly school concept
- the development of methodologies and standards to ensure and monitor learning achievements
3. “The Healthy Life-styles and HIV/AIDS Project”
- Past Activities (2004-2006):
UNICEF GAO participated in and made a presentation at the World AIDS Day workshop that took place in end-November in response to an invitation from the Gulf Council of Health Ministers and the Directorate of Health Affairs of Jeddah Region. A scientific programme was prepared under the patronage of the Emir of Makkah with the aim of strengthening health awareness programmes on the danger of AIDS, how it is transmitted, and ways and means of protection. Participants were from many related sectors from outside and inside Saudi Arabia.
- Planned Activities for (2007-2009):
- UNICEF’s support will include sharing of experiences from similar initiatives within the region, networking, awareness raising campaigns, research, and technical assistance through training and workshops with a focus on:
- information, education and communication activities (IEC) for healthy life-styles among adolescents including HIV/AIDS prevention in particular, but also messages on drug abuse, accident and injury avoidance, violence.
- promoting a protective and enabling environment.
- supporting studies, surveys and research on adolescents.
- partnerships with media especially television, in adolescents’ participation, and in promoting life skills based attitudes and behaviour of adolescents.
