UNGA81: Early childhood facilitators must be well-trained and well-paid – Dr. Apaak

Deputy Minister for Education, Dr. Clement Abass Apaak, has called for the professionalisation of Ghana’s early childhood education workforce, including improved training, pay and career progression.

Speaking on the integration of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) into national foundational learning strategies, Dr. Apaak said the quality of early childhood education depends heavily on the people responsible for delivering it.

He made the remarks on the sidelines of the ongoing 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81) during a forum on the theme, “Building Strong Foundations: Why ECCE Must Be Integrated into National Foundational Learning Strategies.”

“Let us professionalize early childhood educators, with pay, respect and training equal to their primary school colleagues,” he said.

Dr. Apaak said efforts to strengthen foundational learning must go beyond curriculum reforms to include parents, communities, teachers and school leaders.

He said Ghana is already taking steps to strengthen the early childhood education system through qualified educators with clearer career progression, stronger parental and community involvement, and improved leadership at the district and school levels.

Dr. Apaak also cautioned against fragmented funding for early childhood and foundational learning programmes, saying separate interventions could undermine efforts to improve learning outcomes.

“Too often, funding is siloed. One grant finance reading in Primary 2. Another funds for a preschool pilot in three districts. A third focuses on early nutrition,” he said.

He described the resulting situation as “islands of excellence in a sea of systemic fragmentation.”

The Deputy Minister urged governments, civil society organisations and international partners to adopt integrated financing and policies that treat early childhood and basic education as one continuous learning journey.