Dr. Apaak urges govts to invest more in early childhood education, calls for 10% of education budgets

Deputy Minister for Education, Dr. Clement Abass Apaak, has called for increased investment in early childhood education, describing Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) as critical to strengthening foundational learning and addressing educational inequality.

Dr. Apaak made the call on the sidelines of the 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.”

He said investment in the early years can help address learning difficulties before they become more difficult and costly to resolve.

“ECCE is the greatest equalizer we have. It levels the playing field before children reach primary school, so that family background does not dictate educational destiny,” he said.

Dr. Apaak also highlighted the economic benefits of investing in early childhood education, citing research by Nobel laureate James Heckman on the returns from quality early childhood investment.

“Because early investment prevents failure before it happens,” he explained.

He called on governments to dedicate at least 10 percent of national education budgets to early childhood education and urged development partners to provide flexible funding that bridges pre-primary and primary education.

Dr. Apaak said Ghana has made foundational learning its number one basic education priority under the Transforming Education for a Sustainable Future agenda, with early childhood education forming a key part of the strategy,

He said greater investment in ECCE would help ensure children enter primary school with the skills and support needed to succeed.