The note explores the need to identifyboth cost effective, and adaptable interventions in thepromotion of early childhood care and education (ECCE)programs, to benefit communities, and countries at large. Tothis end, based on a Bank sector study that examines suchprograms in Cape Verde, as a relatively wealthy Africancountry, and in comparison Guinea, as a relatively poorcountry, it is emphasized that the feasibility of differentapproaches may be country specific. The study questions theoverall status, and profile of early childhood developmentprograms, and the factors determining child enrollment inpre-school programs, as well as the extent of influence ofpre-school attendance in child development. It also reviewsthe program characteristics, seemingly effective in terms ofchild development, including the policy implications ofthese programs in terms of costs, financing, andimplementation. Findings, and recommendations suggest thatpre-school education can be a double-edged sword, that canboth alleviate, and exacerbate disparities, while widevariations in pre-school effectiveness indicate the manyfactors influencing its success. But government plays acritical role in supporting ECCD programs, that is, it canimprove efficiency, and equity. Highlights featurelonger-term impact of pre-school for primary schoolperformance, and how to best expand access to pre-school,without raising public expenditures.
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