1. Early Childhood Care and Education in in Ethiopia
Tirussew Teferra,
Professor of Special Needs Education,
Addis Ababa University, June 2010

2. Early Care and Education
ECC is usually the responsibility of mothers ( strong emotional attachment and physical contact),
Fathers’ role in childcare is very minimal,
Widespread traditional and punitive child rearing practices, and
Prevalence of of child neglect and abuse.

3. early Childhood Education
Traditional Early Childhood Education
Church Education/peer teaching and multiple levels/ age 4 >
Koranic Education
Modern Early Childhood Education
Community/Kebele (affordable)
Private (middle and upper class)
NGOs (for low income families and orphans)
Faith-based organizations

4. Features of the Early childhood Education
Limited capacity (enrollment 2.7%)
Diversified curricula and programs
Understaffed (caregivers and teachers)
Ill-equipped (facilities and learning materials)
Lack of adequate space (play ground & classrooms)
Not affordable (private)
Programs focused on literacy & numeracy learning (reading, writing counting, adding etc.)
Second language teaching (including games and stories)

5. Opportunities for Early Childhood Care and Education
Favorable Policy Frameworks
Education & Training Policy (TGE,1994)
Confirms the importance of early childhood education;
Proclaims that kindergarten will focus on all-round development of the child in preparation for formal schooling; and
Gives due attention to students with disabilities gifted children

6. Opportunities for Early Childhood Care and Education
Sector Development Programs
Education Sector Development Program III (2005/2010)
Early childhood education is considered as one of the important intervention areas in the coming five years

7. Other Opportunities …
International Agencies an d Non-governmental organizations
Supporting early childhood care and education programs
Undertaking community, home and institute-based intervention programs
Providing assistance to medical training centers and outreach programs
Organizing drop-in centers for street children
Educating parents, teachers and the general public about the child’s right convention etc.

8. Research and Intervention on Early Childhood Care and Education
Early Psychosocial Intervention and Development Collaborative Project between Addis Ababa University and Universities of Bergen and Oslo, Norway ( );
Study on Early Childhood Care and Development Intervention in Ethiopia
( World Bank, 1999); and
National Study on Early Childhood Care and Education in Ethiopia (UNICEF and MOE,2006/07) (Research on Progress)

9. Project- 1 Early Psychosocial Intervention (Universities, Addis Ababa, Bergen and OSlO,1990-2000]
MISC: Mediational Intervention for Sensitizing Caregivers [process]
More Intelligent and sensitive Child

10. Project-2 ECCE- [ World Bank,1999]
ECCD programs seemed to encourage early school enrolment and high retention rate in primary schools;
It was further observed that parents of the ECCD children had a significantly notable follow-up and concern about their children's education compared to the non-ECCD parents ;
The finding revealed that the ECCD parents' perception of their role in influencing the overall development of children was found to be higher than that of the non-ECCD parents, and
The study has found out that children in the ECCD programs were not exposed to different types of illness and accidents compared to the non-ECCD children.

11. Project-3 National Study on Early childhood Care and Education : UNICEF & MOE, 2007
The research report has served as the ground for formulating national policy frame-work on ECCE

12. Final Remark The Way Forward :
The Ministry of Education should consider ECE program as an integral part of the general education and ensures that every child has the opportunity to have access to early childhood education before he or she joins formal education.
Encourage and support REBs and WEOs to open and run early childhood education programs under the auspices of primary schools;
Coordinate and regulate early childhood education and teacher training programs to ensure standard and quality; and
Establish inter-ministerial cooperation among the relevant sector ministries. “

13. [Africa Fit for Children, May 2001]
“Today’s investment in children is tomorrow’s peace, stability, security, democracy and sustainable development ”
[Africa Fit for Children, May 2001]
Thank You !!