Kathmandu: One out of five children aged 2-4 in Nepal is not developing on track amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, new data from UNICEF shows.
The pandemic has especially affected the health, learning, and psychosocial well-being of the children, according to ‘The Early Childhood Development Index (ECDI)’ survey.
The survey conducted in August showed that children from lower-income families, living in rural areas, with caregivers with no or low levels of education, and not attending early childhood education (ECE) programs were at higher risk of being developmentally off track, according to the report.
Even among children who attended ECE, those who attended government ECE were at higher risk of being developmentally off track compared to those who attended private programs, states the report.
Even among children who attended ECE, those who attended government ECE were at higher risk of being developmentally off track compared to those who attended private programs, states the report.
ECDI survey is a phone-based survey conducted among a nationally representative sample of 2,853 households with children to understand the development needs and status of young children aged 2 to 4 years.
UNICEF has called upon the government, development partners, teachers, parents, and other stakeholders to target children who are at higher risk of becoming developmentally off track through effective interventions and utilize the alternative learning modalities specified in the National Emergency Action Plan in times of school closures.
Likewise, it suggested strengthening parenting education, with a focus on fathers’ engagement and enhancing early stimulation activities by parents.
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