The College of Education and Behavioral Studies of the Addis Ababa University organized its 7^th national educational Conference from May 11-13, 2017 at Central Hotel in Hawassa.

The conference administrated various paper presentations under a theme “Building the Foundation: status, challenges and prospects of early year’s education and care in Ethiopia.”

The conference was aimed at informing Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) policies in Ethiopia for national perspective of ECCE systems.

Current practices, challenges and opportunities were discussed to provide policy orientations that can help promote equitable access to high quality of Early Childhood Education and Care.

Addressing introductory remarks Abraha Asfaw (PhD), Dean of the organizing college noted that to bring breakthrough in the education system, building the foundation of the ECCE system on strong base is unprecedented.

The three days conference entertained 29 research papers that focused on ECCE’s practices, challenges, opportunities and future perspectives.

In his presentation entitled ‘Early Childhood Care and Education in Ethiopia: context, policy and rationales, Kenenissa Dabi (PhD) stated that the assurance of quality of care and education to be rendered to ECCE could be a far from being realized.

 For the realization and sustainability of the massive ECCE policy initiative, Dr. Kenenisa, noted that it is worth considering providing an equitable financing need to be put in place.

“Care should be given on ECCE’S Policy on management, leadership and teachers’ development as well as retentions because care and education of children is more complex than other higher levels of education” he added.