Best investment:

Early childhood education

P A Leelaratne

The process of child development is the basis of human development. The development of social behaviour, intelligence and personality are critical at the early years of life.

The period of life from birth to eight years of age has been defined as early childhood. This is the period where greatest growth and development occurs in the brain and the body of a human being. It is a period when walking, talking, vision of the world, self-esteem and moral foundations are established. As a continuum, this age range can be defined as the developmental stage. It includes pre and initial school years.

Early childhood investments will help the child’s academic achievements than investments at later points of the lifecycle. Therefore parents must prioritize more on the key survival grades, that is the first who or three grades of primary education.

Mental, physical and social capabilities are the key parameters of early childhood development. If these fundamental capabilities are not well established from the start and especially if neurological damage occurs, the learning potential is adversely affected. Therefore a child’s success in life depends on how seriously you involve him or her in early learning.

Lack of parental involvement will be reflected in Children’s progress. Parent’s involvements at school and parent educational expectations are highly correlated with a child’s academic achievements. Therefore school and parents all have crucial roles to play and the impact is greater if parents and schools work in partnership.

There is no better investment that individuals, parents and the nation can make than an investment in early childhood education of the highest possible quality. Such investments are reflected, and endure, in the formation of the kind of social conscience that our world so desperately needs. As a result higher levels of education correspond to lower unemployment and poverty rates in any nation.

Early childhood education systems must stimulate students to consider a variety of perspectives on some of the fundamental questions posed by the human condition: “What are my duties to my fellow men, to the world (country) and to the religion”, “What is truth?” and “What is reality?”

All children have the right to an appropriate education. It is our duty to make sure that our child’s needs are being met.

The writer is the principal of Leeds College, Koswatte.

There is no better investment that individuals, parents and the nation can make than an investment in early childhood education of the highest possible quality. Such investments are reflected, and endure, in the formation of the kind of social conscience that our world so desperately needs. As a result higher levels of education correspond to lower unemployment and poverty rates in any nation.