Sunday, January 6

Ensuring the Best Start in Life: Targeting vs. Universality in Early Childhood Development

A study for the Institute for Research on Public Policy (http://www.irpp.org/) indicates that targeted preschool programs aren't serving Canada's children well. Politicians aren't qualified to pick the kids who need help. Allowing millions of children to fall short of their potential, with labour shortages looming, is bad economic planning.

Intuitively, it makes sense that early learning programs should be targeted at low-income children. They face bigger hurdles than other youngsters. They're more likely to struggle at school. They have a higher risk of dropping out and perpetuating the poverty cycle.

Yet pediatricians, teachers and psychologists consistently advocate that all pre-schoolers be treated equally.

For the past 15 years, Canada's politicians have ignored the experts and gone with their guts.

The result is a patchwork of programs aimed at youngsters living in poor neighbourhoods, aboriginal communities and single-parent households.

It fails on two counts, says Gillian Doherty. First, it isn't particularly cost-effective. Second, it excludes 70 per cent of youngsters with development problems.

Doherty hopes middle- and upper-income voters – who have the power to decide elections – take a hard look at the evidence.

Title: Ensuring the Best Start in Life: Targeting vs. Universality in Early Childhood Development

Author: Gillian Doherty
Research program: Investing in Our Children
Release date: December 6, 2007
Photo Credit: Banksy

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