The Republic of The Union of Myanmar Myanmar Policy for Early Childhood Care and Development 2014 President Agga Maha Thayay Sithu Agga Maha Thiri Thudhamma U Thein Sein Preface U Thein Sein President The Republic of The Union of Myanmar Children from the time of birth to 8 years old across the country are fundamental for the human resource development and play a vital role for a developed and democratic Nation. The future of these children depends on the implementation of ECCD activities which are not just about the quantity but the quality of the services. The Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement is the focal Ministry which implements the basic categories of right: survival, development, protection, and participation. The ECCD policy was developed in consultation with the relevant Ministries, UNICEF (Myanmar), non-governmental organizations and civil societies. Promotion of ECCD services is the most effective invest- ment for the country. Hence, the policy and strategic action plan need to be effectively materialized sectorwise as the children are the persons that will build the nation in future. I would like you all to know that the ECCD policy reflects the needs, hopes, demands, and socio-economic life of the citizens and my appreciation goes to the individuals and organizations that have given their full support. President Agga Maha Thayay Sithu Agga Maha Thiri Thudhamma U Thein Sein Acknowledgement Agga Maha Thiri Thudhamma Theingi Dr. Myat Myat Ohn Khin Union Minister Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement It is my honor to introduce the multisectoral Policy for Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD), on behalf of Myanmar National Committee on the Rights of the Child. The Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement is taking a leadership role in developing ECCD Policy with the full collaboration of concerned Ministries and Organizations. The purpose of the ECCD Policy is to ensure that children in Myanmar, from birth to eight years of age, will receive the ECCD services to achieve their full potential in development. Expanded, improved and well-coordinated ECCD services will support parents, caregivers and service providers by helping them develop their children in a holistic manner. In addition, the ECCD Policy will ensure Myanmar's commitment to fulfill the rights of the child, mentioned in United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). About 8 million children in Myanmar will be the beneficiary of the ECCD Policy each year that will promise a good and comprehensive foundation for the children to contribute positively to their families, communities and the nation. Multisectoral and integrated ECCD services will improve children's development, health, nutrition, hygiene and protective care. Thus, the children will become strong, healthy, well-nourished as well as socially responsible and emotionally well balanced grown-ups. Moreover, ECCD services will assist for preparing school life, completing primary education and continuing secondary education. Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement acknowledges with thanks for full and active participation of national and regional level representa- tives, various organizations, ethnic groups and parents representatives in devel- oping ECCD policy and Strategic plan. In conclusion, I believe that full understanding of the ECCD Policy and implementing the Strategic Plan will ensure better future for Myanmar children and also contribute to socio-economic development of the nation and its people, in accordance with the reform processes mandated by the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. Agga Maha Thiri Thudhamma Theingi Dr. Myat Myat Ohn Khin Table of Contents Myanmar Policy for Early Childhood Care and Development Executive Summary .................................................................................................. 1 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 17 2. ECCD Situation Analysis ................................................................................... 27 3. ECCD Vision and Mission Statements ..................................................... 69 4. Policy Concepts, Goals, Objectives and Strategies ......................... 73 5. Services and Activities for Each Strategy ............................................. 85 6. ECCD Investment Plan .................................................................................... 153 7. National ECCD Coordination Plan with International Development Partners .................................................................................... 167 8. Conclusion ............................................................................................................. 171 9. Annex Annex I Bibliography ............................................................................... 175 Annex II Acronyms .............................................................................................. 185 Annex III ECCD Consultation Workshops Schedule ................... 190 Annex IV Multisectoral ECCD Policy Steering Committee ...... 192 Annex V Multisectoral ECCD Policy Task Force .......................... 194 Executive Summary Myanmar Policy for Early Childhood Care and Development The Myanmar Policy for Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) presents major national initiatives for child and family development. The Government of Myanmar places high priority on the development, education, health, nutrition and protection of young children, from conception to eight years of age. Successive Five-Year ECCD Strategic Plans will provide operational guidance for implementing this Pol icy over the next 15 to 20 years. Benefiting from investments in ECCD Services Through expanding investment in ECCD services, Myanmar will benefit from lower costs for health and nutrition care, welfare and child protection services, and especially from a reduction of the high costs of educational inefficiencies, such as overage primary school entry, high levels of grade repetition and school drop-out, special and remedial education services, and low rates of timely school completion and progression to the next school level. Culturally and linguistically appropriate ECCD services will help to achieve peaceful relations among ethnic groups, and will enable children from all ethnic groups to succeed in school. Short, medium and long-term impacts from the provision of quality ECCD services will enable Myanmar to achieve a high rate of return from its investments in children. As abundant research has demonstrated, these benefits will produce savings that will more than pay for the original investments that were made to develop, expand and improve ECCD services, and national economic productivity will be greatly increased. MYANMAR POLICY FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT 1 Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar 2014 Conducting a participatory policy planning process A participatory planning process was used to develop the ECCD Pol icy. The Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement (MoSWRR) led policy-planning activities and established the Multisectoral ECCD Pol icy Steering Committee that guided Policy preparation. The Steering Committee included the Ministry of Education (MoE), Ministry of Health (MoH), Ministry of Border Affairs (MoBA), Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development (MoNPED), Ministry of Finance (MoF), Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA), Union Attorney General’s office (UAGO), Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security (MoL), Ministry of Information (MoI), Ministry of Immigration and Population (MoIP), and the Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare Association (MMCWA), with the full collaboration of UNICEF. A Multisectoral ECCD Pol icy Task Force assisted the Steering Committee. The Task Force included ECCD prof essionals from ministries, non-governmental, faith-based and community organisations, foundations and associations. The Task Force held Consultation Workshops in Yangon, Mon, Mandalay, Sagaing and Southern Shan with leaders of communities, townships, regions/states and ministries, including parents, teachers, health care providers, and representatives of non-governmental, faith-based, community-based and other organisations, including representatives of the media and private sector. In addition to informing citizens about the development of the ECCD Pol icy, the Workshops identified major ECCD needs and challenges, secured participants’ recommendations for the National ECCD Vision, Mission, objectives, strategies and services. In addition, high-level interviews were conducted with national and regional leaders to secure their views regarding the ECCD Pol icy. Based on all available policies, plans, statistics, studies, reports and documents, a detailed Situation Analysis was also prepared. Highlights of this Situation Analysis are presented in Chapter 2 of the Pol icy. Results from the Consultation Workshops, Interviews and Situation Analysis revealed a high level of consensus regarding the major needs of young children and families and the types of strategies, services and activities that will be required to meet those needs. This consensus became a mandate as the Multisectoral ECCD Policy Steering Committee and Task Force developed the ECCD Policy. MYANMAR POLICY FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT 2 Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar 2014 Building on Myanmar’s strengths The