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SARAJEVO, May 22 (FENA) - The results of the study of investments in the early development of children in Bosnia and Herzegovina, conducted by UNICEF in the last 15 months, were presented today in Sarajevo.
The findings showed that every stamp invested in early growth and development in Bosnia and Herzegovina will have a multiple return.
On this occasion, the resident coordinator of the UN in BiH Ingrid Macdonald pointed out that the UN emphasizes the important role of parents, teachers and the entire community and students themselves in strengthening the education system.
- In contact with them, we collected data that we needed for joint efforts in improving the education system. Studies have shown that one dollar invested in education means a return of 13 dollars for the economy and the development of society. Now it is high time that BiH also invests in this area - said Macdonald.
The representative of UNICEF in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Rownak Khan, noted that UNICEF has been working on the preparation of arguments for investment in education in Bosnia and Herzegovina for the last 15 months.
- This feasibility study, as well as the argumentation for investment, represent a tool that will be available to our partners to work on strengthening education in the early development of children. This is a long-term plan and we will work with all actors in BiH to ensure that the findings of these studies reach everyone - said Khan.
Alberto Mussati, a social policy specialist at the UNICEF Regional Office, said that the arguments for investing in early child development are a significant contribution to the implementation of sustainable development goals.
- It is usually considered that the most important investments are in infrastructure because they ensure the greatest economic return. However, the development of this argument proved the highest return on ensuring the investment in the early development of the child - emphasized Mussati.
Investing in early childhood is expected to drive progress toward reducing preventable maternal and child mortality and morbidity, improve educational outcomes, lifetime earnings, and reduce poverty and inequality, according to study results.
It is also expected that improving the coverage of preschool education will increase the number of years of schooling of children and the participation of women in the labor market.
Over the next 30 years, monetized socio-economic benefits from additional years of schooling could be worth up to 20.9 billion KM in the Federation, 10.9 billion in the Republika Srpska and 722 million in the Brčko District. It is estimated that the monetary impact of the increased participation of women in the labor market will reach 323 million KM in FBiH, 171 million in RS and 11 million in BD.
The findings showed that investments in preschool education have a strong positive return, and it is estimated that for every stamp invested, 6.9 KM would be returned to FBiH, 6.7 KM to RS, and 5.9 KM to BD in the next 30 years.
(FENA) L. N.
