Early Learning and Development Standards for 3 and 5 Year Olds

Abstract

Background With early care and education being provided in a wide variety of settings by both private and public providers, quality of services varies from place to place. Whereas there are service providers that try to ensure that they offer quality services, there are many others who provide services that are far below the minimum standard to the majority of Ugandans. This variation in itself compromises the life and future of many children. In order to streamline and standardize this provision, the Uganda Education Act (2008) in Part VIII (a) mandated the Directorate of Education Standards (DES) one of the arms of the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Sports to set, define and review standards in educational practice and provision. Similarly, the education sector Early Childhood Policy (2007) in section 5.3.9 (a), (e) entrusted the DES with the mandate to set, and establish the standards and ensure adherence to such standards in all education institutions including Early Childhood Development. Following global trends in standardisation of early learning and care, DES found it fitting to develop the Early Learning and Development Standards (ELDS) which it will use to ensure standards in early childhood development service provision.