This contribution by Christian Morabito, International researcher and expert in the field of inequalities in early childhood education and care (ECEC), is part of our #SocialEurope campaign, which showcases how progressive cities and regions are championing social progress, both through their inspiring vision and concrete action.
A fair and sustainable Europe hinges on children. Overwhelming evidence shows that inequalities in life chances are already formed in the early years of life. For instance, children from high income families know, at that age, already two to three times the number of words than less fortunate children.
As a study led by FEPS and partners affirms, European children aged 0 to 3 from the bottom 40% of socio-economic status stand a 15% better chance of achieving average educational attainments in their teenage years when granted access to quality early childhood care and education. The ripple effects extend beyond academics, influencing lower dropout rates, increased access to tertiary education, and, ultimately, improved employment positions and earnings in adulthood.
Despite the compelling evidence supporting the short and long-term benefits of participation in early childhood education and care, many families with young children lack adequate support, and only a handful of EU member states have met the EU objective of 45% participation for children aged 0-3 years old. This situation is particularly alarming, given that almost 1 out of 4 children below the age of 6 in the European Union faces the risk of poverty and social exclusion.
Progressives have been at the forefront of advocating for early childhood care and education, leading to significant milestones such as the adoption of the European Pillar of Social Rights in 2017.
In 2020, when Europe was struggling against the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 300 prominent European progressive figures, from politics, academic, civil society, trade unions, call for a Child Union, a European Union guaranteeing equal access to quality early childhood education and care, as an essential element to reduce inequalities and fight poverty and social exclusion.
The momentum was built, leading to the adoption of the European Child Guarantee in 2021, requesting Member States to guarantee equal access to welfare services, among which early childhood education and care. Substantial resources, were also earmarked, through the Recovery and Resilience Facility and the European Social Fund Plus.
Is there a return to investing in early childhood? @FEPS_Europe studies by Christian Morabito on #ChildUnion & #ChildGuarantee show that we need ECEC as a key tool to #FundOurFuture 🇪🇺
📕Read the full policy study https://t.co/scQTr55kTW pic.twitter.com/wjXyVfzpSw— FEPS (@FEPS_Europe) November 8, 2023
However, the journey is far from over. Progressives must now intensify their efforts, at both national and European level, to:
Champion the cause of quality early childhood care and education universally free, akin to primary education.
Recognize early childhood education and care as an investment rather than mere spending, and provide adequate resources in particular to municipalities that are mainly responsible for services delivery, to invest in expanding the offer and ensuring quality.
Establish a charter of rights for workers in early childhood education and care, acknowledging their indispensable role in society and improving their working conditions, firstly by addressing wage discrimination and aligning their salaries with those of workers in other sectors with similar skills and responsibilities.
Invest in quality through enhancing the qualifications of staff, and ensuring that children have the best learning experiences. Support to local authorities must be granted to build their capacities for planning quality services.
Progressives across Europe have already embarked on this journey. Portugal's government has taken steps to make all childcare free, while the region of Emilia Romagna in Italy is providing free childcare to most disadvantaged children living in mountainous and internal areas. The progressive party Vurooit in Belgium, heading into the 2024 federal and regional elections, has outlined an ambitious long term program to make childcare free while elevating the quality of services. Other progressive governments, such as the Spanish and the German, has heavily invested in expanding public early childhood education and care through the recovery and resilience facility.
The fight for early childhood care and education is rooted in the progressive belief that every child deserves equal opportunities, irrespective of their socio-economic background. Early childhood education and care is not a commodity but a fundamental right that empowers children and women, enabling women to work and gain economic independence. The time is now for progressives to champion these ideals and secure a brighter, more equitable future for European children and the society as a whole.
© Photo credits of the header Markus Spiske Unsplash
