In its National Strategy for the Development of Education 2005-2015 (NSDE), the country made a critically important and straightforward decision regarding the policy field of Early Childhood Development (ECD). It decided to substantially enlarge the intake of children at preschool level, be it in the well-known Kindergartens, be it in alternative and innovative programs. In doing so, there will be a strong focus on children in disadvantaged groups and areas. This was anchored in the Law on Children’s Protection by an Amendment in 2004 (article 20), which emphasizes the needs of children in remote or demographically jeopardized areas.

Given these strong legal and policy statements, this report does not need to rehearse the large body of evidence that demonstrates the positive impact of regular and alternative ECD programs on the child, the family, the society and the economy. Nobody needs to be convinced anymore. The country has moved beyond the stage of advocacy for ECD. Instead, this report focuses on the “how-question”. How can we redeem, in 2010, the legal promise made in 2004. How can we turn the legal rights of less privileged children into reality.

Other UNICEF publications.