RANGPUR, – Speakers at an advocacy meeting today stressed the need for effective engagement and smooth running of ‘Early Learning Centres’ to ensure early childhood education for unprivileged urban children in Rangpur city.

They viewed this at the meeting on ‘Early Learning Centres’ organised by Rangpur office of Bangladesh Shishu Academy (BSA) with assistance of UNICEF Rangpur divisional office at Rangpur Circuit House conference room.

As part of UNICEF supported ‘Early Learning for Child Development Project’, the BSA is running ‘Early Learning Centers’ in 10 Wards of Rangpur City Corporation (RpCC) where 300 unprivileged urban children are receiving early childhood care and support.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (Genaral) Syed Enamul Kabir as the chief guest attended the event while UNICEF Education Officer Sifat-E-Islam facilitated the key sessions.

District Children Affairs Officer Mushtaq Ahmed, Chief Health Officer of RpCC Dr. Kamruzzaman Ibne Taj, its participating Ward Councilors and teachers of all 10 ‘Early Learning Centres’ spoke at the event.

The chief guest stressed importance of early childhood education and asked UNICEF for ensuring effective engagement in running the ‘Early Learning Centers’ smoothly to make the early childhood development programme successful.

UNICEF Chief of Rangpur and Rajshahi Division Najibullah Hameem delivered keynote speech terming early years (0 to 8 years) as the most extraordinary period of growth and development in a child’s lifetime.

A child exposed to neglect or violence will very likely to suffer from cognitive, behavioral or emotional difficulties. The foundations of all learning are laid during these early years of children.

He stressed on giving proper importance on early childhood development and effective collaboration of development partners, stakeholders and Ward Councilors and citizen groups to make the initiative successful.

Sifat-E-Islam said early childhood development services are being delivered in comprehensive packages as part of UNICEF’s efforts to raise quality of social services to communities living in under-served areas like urban slums.

“Good quality early learning and early childhood development programmes can help reduce chances of school dropouts and its repetition and improves outcomes at all levels of education,” she added.