‘Improve basic learning skills’
The First Lady, Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo, has advised parents to invest in their children to help them improve on their basic learning and socialisation skills.
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She said, ‘‘we need to build a solid foundation in our children, a foundation that will stand the test of time’’.
Mrs Akufo-Addo, who was speaking during the Organisation Mondiale pour l’Education Prescolaire (OMEP) African Regional Conference held in Accra, explained that the first five years of every child was crucial in shaping the child’s brain.
She pointed out that the early experiences of children had a direct impact on how they adopted learning, social and emotional skills.
According to her, ‘‘children start schooling with different early experiences, yet they are all expected to perform better which should not be the case’’.
The conference was on the theme: ‘Transforming and Strengthening Early Childhood Education and Development (ECED) Systems for Sustainable Development in Africa’.
Mr Anis Haffar, an Educationist and Founder of Gate Institute, advocated the best practices to promote quality ECED.
He called on teachers to encourage teamwork and involve the children during class sessions.
He said, ‘‘let’s not underestimate the potential of the African child. Teachers should help build the talents in the children rather than discouraging them from what they are capable of doing’’.
The Proprietress of the Solid Rock Foundation School, Mrs Victoria Hazel, also encouraged teachers to inculcate good habits such as table and eating manners, basic courtesies in children during the early stages of their lives.
She said children would grow up with good values such as truthfulness and tolerance when they were taught these virtues in their formative years.