Mukuve T Vilho
Namibian parents will concentrate on enrolling students for grade zero or one (age group between five to seven) as schools are opening across the nation.
Early childhood education is described as the period from birth until eight years old, which corresponds to the second or third grade level, even though the bulk of the brain’s neurons develop between birth and three years old.
The significance of a child’s early years is sometimes underestimated, despite the fact that research repeatedly demonstrates that these are the crucial years for human development.
The process of growing up begins with our growth as young children. A child’s physical development typically follows a predictable pattern: the child is born, crawls, walks, talks, etc. However, as youngsters get older and eventually as adults, pathways and personalities start to diverge significantly. We can all agree that the complexity of human growth is astounding and well beyond what the majority of us can imagine.
Early childhood experiences lay the groundwork for a child’s future development, giving them a solid basis for lifelong learning and learning skills, including cognitive and social growth. The value of early childhood education as a crucial foundation for a child’s future success is still emphasised by reputable research.
According to studies, youngsters who start receiving a top-notch education before they reach five gain significantly in the medium- and long-term. Early childhood education programmes reduce the likelihood that a child will repeat a grade and that they will be diagnosed as having special needs.
Academically, they are better prepared for higher grades, more likely to graduate from high school and more likely to earn more money at work.
Additionally, a child’s brain develops at its fastest rate in the first few years of life. The quality of stimulation, support, and nurturing can have a negative impact on a child’s overall development. Early intervention can assist to significantly prevent learning deficits. Children who did not take part in an early childhood education programme fall behind their counterparts who did at the beginning of kindergarten’s early academics.
Compared to people who do not participate in an early education programme, they have greater career prospects, better health, fewer levels of dependency, and lower rates of criminality as adults.
Early childhood development initiatives are an investment, not a cost. Investing in it targets both economic growth and the development of the moral character and intellectual abilities required for success in the future.
Therefore, parents need to consider enrolling their children into ECE or should consider home education if they cannot afford.
* Mukuve T Vilho is an educator, student and researcher and can be reached at vilhomt@gmail.com or social media.