Amman, May 6 (Petra) – Jordan on Tuesday launched its Second National Conference for Early Childhood Development, themed "Early Childhood, Safe Growth... Lifelong Learning."

The two-day event, organized by the National Council for Family Affairs (NCFA) in collaboration with Plan International and with support from the Van Leer Foundation, aims to advance national strategies for nurturing the country's youngest citizens.

Minister of Social Development Wafaa Bani Mustafa, representing the Prime Minister, inaugurated the conference.

She emphasized that investing in early childhood is a crucial long-term commitment to building a strong and prosperous society, highlighting the Royal directives of His Majesty King Abdullah II that consistently prioritize family well-being and children's futures through quality education, healthcare, and skills development.

Bani Mustafa noted Jordan's significant legal advancements protecting the rights of children, women, and persons with disabilities, contributing to a more aware and resilient generation.

The conference serves as a platform for national, regional, and international experts to exchange knowledge, showcase successful models, and formulate recommendations aligned with Jordan's Economic Modernisation Vision.

Key objectives include reinforcing a multi-sectoral approach to early childhood development (ECD) and fostering child-friendly, caregiver-supportive environments consistent with the nation's Child Rights Law.

Minister Bani Mustafa also pointed to the NCFA's 2024 mandate to develop a national child care policy in partnership with ministries and civil society organizations, calling it a vital step towards integrated and sustainable support for children and their families.

Dr. Mohammad Miqdadi, NCFA Secretary-General, described the conference as an opportunity to build a shared vision for advancing ECD, a central pillar of the Economic Modernisation Vision which emphasizes human capital development.

"Investing in the early stages of life, particularly early childhood, has a profound impact on shaping the cognitive, behavioral, and social skills that enable children to become active and productive citizens in the future," Dr. Miqdadi stated.

He recalled that the NCFA's establishment in 2001, guided by Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah's vision, followed the launch of Jordan's first comprehensive national ECD strategy in 2000.

Dr. Miqdadi further explained that the NCFA, in line with the 2023-2033 Economic Modernisation Vision and in collaboration with the World Bank and national partners, is developing a "National Policy for Early Childhood Care." This aims to create a holistic system centered on comprehensive care, early learning, and psychosocial health.

Dr. Ra'fat Al-Da'san, Director of the Government Performance and Achievement Monitoring Unit at the Prime Ministry, outlined the government's aspiration that by 2033, all children in Jordan will benefit from an integrated, equitable, and child-centered system for early childhood healthcare and education.

He acknowledged current challenges, noting that ECD services are often "largely fragmented, insufficient, and of varying quality," and sometimes unaffordable. He stressed the need for improved data, workforce development, standardized frameworks, and better governance.

However, Dr. Al-Da'san also highlighted recent progress under the Economic Modernisation Vision's executive program, including nearly 5,000 trained nursery workers and over 1,200 licensed nurseries as of end-April.

Other achievements include the launch of a quality assurance system for kindergartens and the establishment of early intervention units for children with developmental delays or disabilities.

//Petra// AA

06/05/2025 13:15:17