Report urges early education overhaul

RADICAL changes are needed to address serious shortcomings in the education and care of Ireland’s youngest citizens, a Government advisory body has warned.

The National Economic and Social Forum (NESF) is demanding early childhood care and education be made “a high political priority” and says investment in the area will yield future dividends.

Their report provides a cost-based analysis that shows for every euro invested in early childhood care and education, a return of €7.10 can be expected. “Early childhood care and education matters. The returns are unquestionable. Early childhood care and education provision for all children clearly deserves to be an issue of high political priority,” the report says.