The Impact of Funding on Quality of Early Childhood Education Service Provision in Zambia from 2015-2018
Abstract:
High-quality Early Childhood and Education (ECE) is critical
to positive child development and generates high economic returns. On the contrary,
Access to quality ECE in Zambia remains low particularly for the vulnerable. The
situations are compounded by inadequate funding to the ECE subsector. This study
evaluated the effect of funding on the quality of ECE in Zambia for the period 2015
to 2018. It assessed the effect of funding on the provision of ECE services by analysing
the funding patterns to the Ministry of General Education through to Directorate
of Early Childhood Education (DECE), Provincial Education Office (PEO), District
Education Board Office (DEBO) and finally the 10 identified schools /ECE centres.
To assess effect on quality, the study analysed the effect of funding on the eight
identified early learning quality elements as espoused by the Ministry of General
Education. These are, Infrastructure, Water and sanitation, Playgrounds, Furniture,
Equipment and materials, Staffing, Support Staff and Enrolment. The methodology
employed in this study included desk review of the funding reports at the identified
fund management levels as well as Key Informant Interviews (KII) at each identified
level. The results from the desk review and KII indicated that, funding to ECE for
the period 2015 to 2018 was inadequate. At school level, much of the funding went
toward equipment and materials while Water and Sanitation Infrastructure, Playgrounds,
Furniture Equipment and materials were inadequately funded. This negatively affected
the quality of ECE services provided in Zambia between 2015 to 2018.
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