Need for early childhood care stressed
A youngster makes strokes of her brush on a large canvas in a painting programme at Bangladesh Shishu Academy compound in the capital yesterday. Photo: Palash Khan
Several child rights activists yesterday advised parents to improve early childhood care and education for proper physical and mental growth of children. The early childhood stage, considered the period from conception to the age of eight, is the most significant phase for strengthening the base of a child's life, they said. Rasheda K Chowdhury, executive director of Campaign for Popular Education (CAMPE), stressed the need for creating awareness and collaboration between the government and non-government sector to improve early childhood care and education. She made the suggestion at a painting programme at Bangladesh Shishu Academy premises, organised on the occasion of Global Action Week, which ended yesterday. Praising the event, Aly Zaker, a cultural personality, said such painting programme would unveil new horizon of thinking and expression for children. Around 200 students, aged 3-8, from different schools in the capital took part in the programme, expressing their thoughts, visions and imagination through canvas. Shaheen Anam, executive director, Manusher Jonno Foundation, asked the children to keep attentive to study and participate in other extra-curricular activities like painting and sports. Ayesha Akhter, a student of class-I, painted her village that she likes most and wants to go back, leaving the city's crowd and chaos. Another kindergarten student, Humaira Habib Arni, drew a portrait of a village bride, the image she saw at her village home. Addressing the function, noted theatre personality Asaduzzaman Noor stressed expansion of female child education and proper learning of Bangla language, while economist Qazi Kholiquzzaman called for special attention for under-privileged children to ensure their access to education. Before the beginning of the painting programme, a puppet show was held, concurrently giving recreation to the children and a message to take care of children's health. Artist Rafiqun Nabi, Bangladesh Shishu Academy Director Falguni Hamid, and Primary and Mass Education Secretary AKM Abdul Awal Majumder, among others, were present at the event. CAMPE, Bangladesh Shishu Academy, Save The Children, Bangladesh ESD Network, Plan Bangladesh, Global Campaign for Education and Aga Khan Foundation jointly organised the programme in support with different donor agencies including Unicef.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments