Challenges and Sustainability of Early Childhood Care and Education Programs in Northern Nigeria: The Way Forward

Abstract

There is no dispute in saying that, education is an essential tool for achieving sustainable development in any nation, and the fact that children's capacity to contribute to such development can be best be obtained through education has raised an increase in ECCE programs around the world amongst international organizations and within national context as well as government at different levels. In northern Nigeria, ECCE programs is changing positively. Currently, the programs are now geared towards expansion, inclusion and redefining. This paper examined the extent of ECCE programs' contributions to sustainable development through increased in government participation, NGO's, development partners such as United Nations Children Emergency Funds (UNICEF), Child Development Partners (CDP). Parents' responses and awareness in the education of the younger children. Unfortunately, the programs are facing some challenges such as inadequate trained ECCE teachers/care givers, failure of the program to reach the most disadvantaged children to mention but a few. However, there is the need to develop an alternate approach to reach the most disadvantaged children, the government should as well expand its national ECCE policy and ensure its implementation.