Early Learning Assessment of Primary Education Entrants in The Gambia
Sourcing knowledge and providing direction to redefine preschool and primary education activities in The Gambia
Highlights
Early childhood is a vital stage in children’s physical, cognitive, social and emotional development. The human brain begins developing before birth and continues into adulthood, but in the first few years of life, it grows faster than it ever will again. The development of early childhood activities (from birth to primary school entry) is backed by a certain amount of research which shows that appropriate care can have significant subsequent impact on individual lives in terms of childhood development, primary studies and further education.
This study was conducted in the framework of UNICEF’s support for the Gambian Government, aimed at strengthening existing early childhood activities, especially for the most disadvantaged children. The study takes a dual perspective:
- focusing on knowledge about the extent to which children acquire the necessary skills to enter grade one
- from an operational standpoint, providing direction to help redefine the contents of preschool and primary education activities.
