How Policy Affects Early Childhood Care and Development.

It is recommended that:
as an interim measure, a National Early Childhood Development Council be created within the Prime
Minister's Department for the purpose of formulating, conceptualizing and overseeing ECD programmes
in the various sectors (government, non-governmental and private). The Council should be supported by
a strong Secretariat with technical skills related to ECD. In the long term the Council should be
institutionalised within a major Ministry.
The draft policy that resulted from the study reads:
A National ECD Policy
It is known that:
the foundation for children's growth and development is established within the first few years of life and
that learning begins at birth;
Further, it has been demonstrated that:
–conducive and stimulating environments that enhance young children's physical, mental, social,
emotional and spiritual development lead to holistic and balanced individuals; and that
–investments in early childhood development modify social and economic inequalities, addressing the
issues of accessibility, equity and equality; and that
–quality early childhood programmes provide an environment which supports the transmission of
cultural, moral and religious values that are the underpinnings of a fully moral and ethical society.
Thus, with a focus on Vision 2020 and the nine central strategic challenges, the Government of
Malaysia has made a commitment to the promotion of the importance of early childhood years, from
conception through the early primary grades. Further, in accordance with government policy, close
collaboration will be sought with the private sector in the implementation of appropriate early childhood
programmes.
The recommendations of the Task Force are currently under review by the Government of
Malaysia.
South Africa
The motivation for the study in South Africa 2 was different from the motivation in Malaysia. The
study was begun a year and a half before the first free election in 1994. The impetus for the study
was the high rates of repetition and dropout in education for a large percentage of the
population. It was recognized that once the new government came into power there would be
political demands to level the playing field. Therefore the new South African government would
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