Quality Early Learning: How to Prioritize and Sequence Investments in Early Childhood Education

• In Event: Educational Environments and Child Development in Low-Income Contexts

Abstract

This paper proposes guidance for Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC) to prioritize and sequence investments in Early Childhood Education (ECE) so that access is expanded with sufficient quality to promote early learning and support children to thrive in primary school and beyond.

The presentation will explore cross-element prioritization and how countries should sequence investments. It will also explore which aspects of quality ECE are associated with improved child outcomes across settings – and therefore should be prioritized by all countries—and which ones appear to be more context-specific.

The presentation will address the following key topics and related questions:

• Where to start: are there elements of ECE that consistently lead to more early learning?

To address this question, we synthetize findings from the extant literature and new data sources to build a prioritization map (similar to figure 1). New studies informing this exercise include: 1. A systematic reviews of 60 experimental and quasi- experimental studies conducted in LMICs; 2. A systematic review of reviews of 18 reviews of ECE studies from LMICs; 3. A study on cross-country comparison of the associations between pre-school quality and student outcomes using longitudinal data from India, Ghana and Colombia.

• Pathways towards quality early learning: drawing from historical and contemporary examples of country trajectories in ECE, is there a typical path of investments that leads to quality ECE at scale?

To address this question, we will analyze case studies of ECE investments over time drawing from HICs (historical perspective) and LMICs (contemporary developments) to understand if there are trends in the sequencing of ECE investments that consistently lead to learning. In addition to the issues of prioritization and sequencing, this analysis will also explore the role of contextual variables, including institutional, political and community factors.

• Guidance on ECE investments (prioritization and sequencing):

Drawing on the above analyses, we will develop differentiated guidance on sequencing trajectories to reflect country initial conditions (figure 2).

Authors

• Maria Magdalena Bendini, The World Bank
  Presenting Author

• Amanda Devercelli, World Bank
  Non-Presenting Author

• Elaine Ding, The World Bank
  Non-Presenting Author

• Melissa D. Kelly, World Bank Group
  Non-Presenting Author