The UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia organised a workshop titled”ELDS Writing and Validation Workshop” from 22-26 September 2008, in Kathmandu, Nepal. ELDS is the acronym for Early Learning and Development Standards. A wide range of participants from seven SAARC countries and Malaysia attended the workshop.
Pakistan was represented by the Ministry of Education (Projects Wing) and four civil society organisations including TRC. Lila Ram, was our representative.

The overall goal of the workshop was to facilitate the capacity to draft and edit the ELDS document and to facilitate the understanding of the ELDS validation model. Under a global initiative entitled “Going Global with Early Learning and Development Standards”, several countries are working to identify and establish standards which are culturally sensitive and appropriate for young children. The dimensions of ELDS are in line with the approach of a child’s holistic development.
Its good to know that ELDS is very much on the agenda of Pakistan’s Ministry of Education and that the National Curriculum for ECE will provide the basic framework for the ELDS.