Description:
At their Fifth Meeting held in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia on November 14-16, 2007, the Ministers of Education of the Organization of American States (OAS) member states agreed that attention to early childhood is critical and that a comprehensive approach would allow the region "to overcome the challenges of poverty, inequity and social exclusion."
The Meeting culminated with the adoption of the Hemispheric Commitment to Early Childhood Education, wherein the Ministers commit to increasing coverage in early childhood education, with a long-term objective of universalizing integral care for this age group. The document recommends that the Heads of State and Government commit to quality education and comprehensive care for the very young at the Fifth Summit of the Americas, to be held in Trinidad and Tobago in 2009.
Ministers affirmed that they will continue implementing the Inter-American Program on Education for Democratic Values and Practices, in keeping with the longstanding Summit commitment of promoting a democratic culture, as well as to explore ways of developing appropriate early childhood and preschool education indicators. Ministers recognized that "equitable and timely access to quality and integral education adapted to global and local contexts and global realities is a human right, a public good, and a political priority, including in the framework of comprehensive care for the very young."