On April 25, 2024, the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Center for Early Childhood Care Education and Parenting (SEAMEO CECCEP) conducted activities to prepare a draft policy brief aimed at providing input and policies to enhance the quality of holistic integrative early childhood development (HI-ECD). Integrative Holistic Early Childhood Development (HI-ECD) was early childhood development undertaken to meet the diverse and interrelated essential needs of children simultaneously, systematically, and in an integrated manner.
This event was attended by various stakeholders, including the Deputy of the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture, representatives from the directorate of early childhood education, academics, and educational practitioners. Mr. Jhond Arlond Shiena, Deputy Director for Programs at SEAMEO Secretariat, in his speech, expressed awareness of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on early childhood education, as well as the importance of adapting learning methods for PAUD. He also emphasized the importance of cooperation and collaboration between stakeholders in advancing early childhood education in accordance with SEAMEO's strategic priorities.
Prof. Vina, Director of SEAMEO CECCEP, also emphasized the importance of sharing best practices in implementing the Early Childhood Program (HI-ECD) for stakeholders. He also underlined the need for coordination between various parties in formulating holistic and integrative policies, including the HI-ECD coalition, early childhood education universities, and ECCE practitioners.
Assistant of the ECCE the Primary and Secondary Department, Mr. Jazziray Hartoyo, opened the discussion by expressing appreciation to those invited to prepare the policy brief for HI-ECD. He also highlighted the need for clear regulations related to early childhood education, as well as the importance of pre-marital intervention as an initial step in ensuring children's welfare.
In line with this, the Deputy for Coordination of Education Quality Improvement and Religious Moderation at the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture, Prof. Warsito emphasized the same thing. In his presentation, he highlighted that in holistic integrative early childhood development, premarital intervention is needed to improve the quality of early childhood development. These interventions include readiness to become parents, health, family finances, and literacy.
He added that children need consistent emotional support from parents, which can help children build self-confidence and strong attachments. Additionally, the ability to teach basic values and skills is also necessary. On the other hand, the aspect of reproductive and mental health plays an important role in ensuring parents can have children safely and healthily, including understanding healthy conception, pregnancy, and childbirth. Then mental health affects parents' ability to manage stress and provide stable emotional support, thereby creating a safe and supportive environment for children's development.
Financial stability and security are very much needed in the financial aspect. Financial stability provides a sense of security and comfort for families, which directly impacts children. A stable family environment helps children's emotional and social development. Good financial conditions enable families to provide essential resources such as nutritious food, health care, and education, supporting children's physical, cognitive, and emotional growth.
Parent classes are an important vehicle for parents to share information regarding children's essential needs, including nutrition-sensitive interventions, monitoring children's growth such as height, head circumference, and weight, as well as monitoring children's development which includes complete basic immunization. Additionally, the parent class plays a role in coordinating with related units to fulfill nutrition and health, implementing clean and healthy living behavior through habituation, and ensuring the availability of sanitation facilities and clean water that are minimal and easily accessible. Moreover, the parent class also provides additional food and/or nutritious food periodically, at least once every three months, and monitors students' identity ownership, including Population Identification Number.
Dr. Euis Kurniati, in her presentation, emphasized that early childhood education plays an important role as the foundation for the success of children's education into adulthood. She underscored the importance of treating children holistically, recognizing children's rights, and paying attention to the uniqueness and evolutionary capacity of each child. This discussion also highlighted the importance of hearing the voices of children and teachers in policy formulation, as well as the need for guidelines for implementing HI-ECD that promote children's overall welfare and development.
In an effort to improve early childhood education, it was hoped that this discussion would produce a policy brief that would have a positive impact on the welfare and development of children in the Southeast Asia region.
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