LUSAKA, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Two United Nations (UN) agencies launched an initiative on Thursday aimed at helping children in Zambia and other countries stay in school, stay safe and grow up healthy.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) launched four co-published technical briefs as part of the "Building Strong Foundations" initiative. This new initiative benefits learners aged 5-12 in primary schools and was launched during a global symposium held in Lusaka, the Zambian capital.
The new initiative aims to ensure that all children receive foundational education that not only equips them with basic literacy and numeracy skills but also lays the foundation for health, well-being and social development for life.
"We know that children who receive good quality education are more likely to be healthy, and those who are healthy are better able to learn. But more robust action and investment are needed, starting early on in the primary," said Stefania Giannini, UNESCO's assistant director general for education, in a press statement.
Robert Jenkins, the UNICEF's global director of education and adolescent development, said every child deserves to learn, grow, and thrive in a safe environment.
"The school is a key entry point to fulfill the holistic needs of a child, including nutrition, health, psychosocial, and other critical development needs beyond education," he said, adding that interventions during the early years of a child's life have an incredible long-term impact, laying the foundation for lifelong success in the education system and beyond.
Felix Mutati, Zambia's acting minister of education, said primary school education is paramount for children's development and fulfillment, adding that it was during the formative years that children acquire essential literacy and numeracy skills.
"To effectively nurture these skills, it is crucial to approach early years' numeracy and literacy in a fun, engaging, and age-appropriate manner," he said.
According to the statement, launching the initiative builds on UNESCO's regional work in education for health and well-being through its "Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future program," which is currently a key program supporting education across 33 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. ■