The government of President Daniel Noboa announced on March 27 a new national campaign called “Primeros años…porque el comienzo importa.” The initiative, led by the Ministry of Human Development (MDH) and the Ministry of Education, Sport and Culture (MINEDEC), aims to raise awareness about the importance of early childhood in supporting children’s development, care, protection, and education.
As part of this effort, Zaida Rovira, Minister of Human Development, and Gilda Alcívar García, Minister of Education, signed an inter-institutional agreement. This partnership will allow more than 25,800 children graduating from MDH’s early childhood services in the Costa – Galápagos region to be enrolled in MINEDEC’s initial education system.
The signing ceremony took place at Unidad Educativa Las Acacias in Guayaquil with Vice President María José Pinto attending as an honorary witness. Families who use various MDH Child Development Centers were also present. During her speech at the event, Pinto said: “When the State functions well, families do not have to worry. This initiative seeks to coordinate inter-institutional efforts so that every child has the necessary support for their development under the premise that children are not just Ecuador’s future; they are its present.”
Rovira said that through this agreement “today we not only guarantee education for more than 25,800 girls and boys—around 5,700 from Guayas province—but also opportunities and a better future for our country.” Alcívar added: “Ensuring the right to education is our priority because every child deserves a solid start with real tools and equal conditions.”
Currently over 330 thousand children are enrolled in initial education programs across Ecuador. The government plans to add another 2,497 children through its Family Care Service for Early Childhood.
Officials say these actions reflect a commitment to strengthen public policies focused on young children by providing comprehensive quality services throughout Ecuador.
