By Aimee Verdisco. If anyone ever doubted the power of comparison to move policy, consider these results from standardized tests applied to third and sixth graders in math, language and science in 16 countries across the Region (SERCE, 2008): One out of every three children in third grade does not understand the phrase “once upon a time”. Roughly half of all third … [Read more...] about Quality in education matters
Starting off right: paid maternity leave and quality childcare
Working women in Latin America have just three months of maternity leave, which is less than the 14 week minimum established by the ILO’s Maternity Rights Convention 183, according to Challenges No. 12, the joint news bulletin published by ECLAC and UNICEF. In Cuba and Venezuela, on the other hand, working women receive 18 weeks of 100% paid leave. As of 2011, working mothers … [Read more...] about Starting off right: paid maternity leave and quality childcare
Comprehensive Child Development: How do We get There?
By Patricia Jara. Significant advances in research and evaluation have exponentially expanded our understanding of child development. Using this knowledge to improve resource management and service provision is still a huge challenge. It should be used to help restructure services so as to reduce coverage gaps in maternal and child healthcare as well as improve … [Read more...] about Comprehensive Child Development: How do We get There?
Quality matters in child–caregiver interactions
We recently had the privilege of hosting a meeting of renowned international experts in early childcare service quality at the IDB’s office in Washington, DC, to discuss childcare quality for children ages 0-3. The group reflected on two topics that frequently come up in discussions with programs that offer childcare services in the region. Which factors define childcare … [Read more...] about Quality matters in child–caregiver interactions
Mother’s milk or formula: personal choice or collective responsibility?
By Ana Pérez Expósito. “Each month that a baby breastfeeds reduces his risk of obesity by 4%.” That was the conclusion of the presentation on nutrition and infant growth that I attended a few weeks ago at an international conference on nutrition and growth. Yet upon exiting the conference room, we were greeted by an image of a happy, healthy child advertising one of the many … [Read more...] about Mother’s milk or formula: personal choice or collective responsibility?