Courtesy of the Office of the President in Colombia

The goal is to transform Colombia into a worldwide example in early childhood education: President Santos

After meeting with singer Shakira, the Head of State highlighted the programs benefiting early childhood led by ALAS and Barefoot foundations. He recalled that the National Government's strategy - with the program De Cero a Siempre (From Zero to Always) - aims to provide comprehensive care to 1.2 million children.

"Colombia has the goal of becoming a worldwide example in education for young children in the next four years." Said President Juan Manuel Santos on Monday after meeting at the Presidential Palace with the Colombian singer Shakira, who explained the main accomplishments of ALAS and Barefoot foundations in early childhood education programs.

"The goal of the next four years is to transform Colombia -that's a wonderful dream that we will make a reality – into the flagship country, into the worldwide example in early education and early childhood," said the President.

He recalled that for this purpose the Government is developing the strategy De Cero a Siempre, to provide comprehensive care for young children.

"We have a plan we call De Cero a Siempre, and that plan we will improve more and more. Our purpose is to provide integrated care to at least 1.2 million children, but that comprehensive care will be the best that can be," said President Santos.

He emphasized that ALAS Foundation along with its allies, the Mario Santo Domingo Foundation and the Carulla Foundation, already have 13 early childhood education centers. Also, he revealed that the singer had suggested that early childhood education be a topic of discussion at the Summit of the Americas to be held in Colombia in April of next year.

--

Photos of the early childhood centers managed by the Pies Descalzos Foundation, which are supported by the alliance between ALAS, the Carulla Foundation and the Mario Santo Domingo Foundation (text in Spanish):

Video of the press conference (in Spanish):