About Us

Overview

The importance of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) is recognized by different international and national constituencies. The Dakar Declaration (2000) on “Education for All” underscores the fundamental relevancy of ECCE. In Ethiopia, the need for ECCE is demonstrated by the dismal General Gross Enrollment for kindergarten. The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia emphasizes ECCE through its government policies, for example, the National Education and Training Policy (1994) states, “Preschool will focus on all rounded development of the child in preparation for formal schooling”. Similarly, the Developmental Social Welfare Policy of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of the FDRE (MOLSA, 1996) states that all efforts shall be made to implement regional and international conventions through legal instruments concerning the rights of children. In sum, the Government of Ethiopia has recognized and prioritized the importance of ECCE in accelerating the attainment of past Education for All and the Millennium Development Goals and the present Sustainable Development Goals.

Furthermore, the national policy framework states to establish a center at Addis Ababa University. It states, “There will be an ECCE expertise center established within the Addis Ababa University. This center will take up the responsibility for monitoring and evaluation, research and innovation, training of trainers at degree level, development of a degree course on ECCE.” It is, thus, on these solid bases Center for Early Childhood Care and Education was established in 2015 at AAU, College of Education and Behavioral Studies.

The Center being located in Addis Ababa University is ideally situated to develop and promote ECCE research base in Ethiopia and Africa at large, thereby promoting indigenous knowledge. The Center would provide free access to ECCE faculty at higher educational institutions, as well as educators and early childhood specialists throughout the country.

Vision

To be a local, national, regional, and international ECCE model, resource, and capacity building Centre that supports and promotes development, rights, education, and well-being of children through innovative initiatives.

Mission

To provide ECCE knowledge based on Ethiopian and African cultural practices through education, research, trainings, workshops, and dissemination of information.

Values

As the central mission of the College of education and behavioral studies is cultivation of human being for human development purposes, the Center transcends the values of the College so that its overall practices are guided by the following core values:

  • Excellence through problem solving
  • Knowledge for development
  • Academic freedom
  • Integrity and professionalism
  • Tolerance and mutual respect
  • Diversity and inclusiveness
  • Partnership