UNICEF, funded by Daewoo E&C, to provide early childhood education support to 750 children from disadvantaged areas of Basra [EN/AR/KU] – Iraq

UNICEF receives close to USD500,000 from Daewoo E&C to increase access to early learning in Basra Governorate.

Baghdad, 06 August 2023 – UNICEF has signed a partnership with Daewoo E&C to provide 750 young children with access to early childhood education (ECE) services in disadvantaged areas in Basra Governorate.

Co-led by the Basra Directorate of Education, this partnership will ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for every child, enhancing school readiness and facilitating a steady and effective transition to primary education. ECE is central in enabling younger children to start primary education at the right age and with the necessary competencies to succeed.

With Daewoo E&C’s support, UNICEF will build five ECE centers in five schools (one classroom per school). Each ECE center will include a classroom, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities and a small safe play area, serving two shifts. In alignment with Iraq National Education Strategy, UNICEF is supporting the Government’s goal to provide access to ECE for at least 30 per cent of all children in Iraq by 2031.

Partnership for Sustainable Development Goals

“UNICEF will support the Ministry of Education (MoE) in providing vulnerable girls and boys with access to quality early childhood development, care and pre-primary education, which will accelerate progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 4.2,” said Sandra Lattouf, UNICEF Representative in Iraq. “With Daewoo E&C’s support, MoE and UNICEF will ensure that these children are able to fulfil their rights and reach their full potential.”

“Daewoo E&C is proud to have entered into a partnership with UNICEF to provide early childhood education (ECE) support to 750 children from disadvantaged areas in Basra Governorate,” said Baek Jung-wan, CEO of Daewoo E&C. “I hope our support for ECE will help create a stable and healthy future for children in Iraq and we plan to further contribute to the development of health and education of communities overseas.”

Strengthening ECE Systems

School-Based Management committees will be established in the five schools as part of strengthening ECE systems. Based on the Parents Teachers Association, the members of the committee will be trained and supported to elaborate a school improvement plan. This will ensure community ownership of the implementation of the ECE component.

Teacher Training and Community Engagement

To strengthen the capacity of teachers, 40 teachers will be trained on ECE, contributing to delivering quality education focusing on the holistic development of the child. As additional training, 40 teachers and caregivers will also strengthen their skills in young child protection.

The programme will also aim to reach children in the community through summer activities for 750 children immediately when the project starts to prepare the young children for the next school year as the construction will take months to be completed. 750 parents will also be reached to support their parenting skills and community mobilization will be implemented to raise awareness on ECE.

Working Towards a Better Future

UNICEF will continue working with the Government of Iraq, UN agencies, civil society and community organizations to raise awareness on the importance of ECE in Basra and the rest of the country to ensure that children have the best start in life.

About UNICEF

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone. For more information about UNICEF and its work for children, visit http://www.unicef.org/iraq.

Follow UNICEF in Iraq on ourwebsite, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

About Daewoo E&C

Daewoo E&C is a leading global construction company based in the Republic of Korea and has provided wide support to those in need worldwide through overseas branches and sites.

Contact Information

Monica Awad

Communication Specialist, UNICEF in Iraq
email: mawad@unicef.org

Zaid Fahmi

Communication Officer, UNICEF in Iraq
email: Zfahmi@unicef.org

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 4: Quality Education

The article discusses UNICEF’s partnership with Daewoo E&C to provide access to early childhood education (ECE) services in Basra Governorate. This aligns with SDG 4, which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for all.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 4.2: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care, and pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary education.

The article mentions that UNICEF’s support for ECE in Basra Governorate will contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4.2. This target focuses on providing access to quality early childhood development, care, and pre-primary education to ensure children are prepared for primary education.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator 4.2.1: Proportion of children under 5 years of age who are developmentally on track in health, learning, and psychosocial well-being, by sex.
• Indicator 4.2.2: Participation rate in organized learning (one year before the official primary entry age), by sex.

While the article does not explicitly mention these indicators, achieving Target 4.2 would involve measuring the proportion of children under 5 years of age who are developmentally on track and the participation rate in organized learning. These indicators would help assess progress towards ensuring children’s readiness for primary education.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

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Source: reliefweb.int

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