Despite huge growth in the numbers, the Early Childhood Development Centres have not been able to provide quality services to the children, according to lawmakers and the education experts.

They claimed that there is still unawareness among the general people and also in the state authority that the ECD means providing education to the children below five years of age. They said that it’s the duty of the government to ensure that the children get proper care even before they are born.

Speaking at a programme organised by ECD Caucus of the Parliament in collaboration with Seto Gurarans Children Development Services, an NGO working in the EDC sector, in the Capital on Wednesday, they asked the government to focus on quality also with the quantitative growth.

“The government agencies should have clear legal framework in place to ensure the children get care from the womb,” said lawmaker Rukmini Chaudhary. There are a total of 30,338 ECDCs being run at community level while 5,645 such centres have been operated by private sector in the country.

Also speaking at the programme Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare Asha Koirala said plans are afoot for establishment of ECD Centres in every locality. She also claimed that a policy is being formulated determining the role of both the parents and the state on the ECD.

Speaking at a programme organised in the Capital today, Minister Koirala spoke of the need to expand the ECDs by determining the parents’ role and responsibilities.