Early Childhood study in Punjab, Pakistan and Gujarat, India has come to an end. The project has successfully completed and published a final report in which a foreword is contributed by Ziauddin Yousafzai (Malala's father and author of Let her Fly)
The findings of this large-scale comparative study show that learning takes place for all children even for those who never attend a formal school in their childhood years of development. However, there are gaps between the learning outcomes of children attending school or not, defined and measured in terms of literacy and numeracy. Children who attend school have opportunities to learn more (of relevance to these measures) as compared to children who do not attend school. School provides environment for learning where educational resources, social interaction with peers and teachers play an important role towards learning and attainment. Children not attending school may not meet the same level of attainment in literacy and numeracy because these skills are often taught through structured coaching, implementation of impactful learning approaches, and opportunities for regular practice, and feedback. The attainment gap widens as children grow up because children not in school usually do not have any other alternatives in catching up skills for literacy and numeracy.
Full report available here
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