Maseru __ The Ministry of Education and Training and it co-hosts UNICEF and Network of Early Childhood Development of Lesotho (NECDOL) will host a regional conference on Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) in Maseru from November 5th to 7th.

The conference will be held under the theme ‘Beyond Bricks and Mortar: Investing in Our Most Valuable Asset-Building Blocks for the Future’.

According to the Minister of Education and Training Professor Ntoi Rapapa this conference is being held as a way to contribute to the fulfillment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4 and 17. SDG 4 talks about quality education while SGD 17 emphasizes the need for a holistic approach to child development.

He stated that the conference will be hosted by the Government of Lesotho through the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET), UNICEF, Network of Early Childhood Development of Lesotho (NECDOL), Southern African ECDE Networks and with support from development partners, trusts and investment partners in and out of SADC region.

He mentioned that the overall goal of this conference is for governments, private sector, funding agencies and civil society to commit, adopt mechanisms and support to ECDE in the region and through presentation of research studies and best practices sharing, the stakeholders will be empowered across the ECDE landscape to leverage on technology, education and accessible data for effective monitoring and improved early childhood development outcomes.

Professor Rapapa also highlighted that some tangible outcomes expected from this conference include Review and set action plans to consider the adoption draft Protocol for children at SADC level by heads of states, the established partnerships for the support of ECDE in the region by governments, private sector, funding agencies and civil society, strengthening of the Southern Africa ECDE movement through formalising the regional ECDE network of networks as well as identified priority advocacy issues for the region.

The conference is supported by the Ministry of Education and Training, UNICEF Lesotho, Global Partnership for Education, Roger Federer Foundation, World Food Programme, Boston University, NECDOL & Catholic Relief Services.

It will end with an Educational Fun Fare on 8th November at Maseru Club Grounds. Expected in this are 500 children with different disabilities and children from vulnerable schools.

Expected to attend this conference are countries such as Eswatini, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, South Africa and Zambia.