Coordination and integration Early childhood care and education
is often the concern of several government sectors and usually
these are education, social affairs and health. The multi-
faceted nature of early childhood care and education gives rise
to the challenge of effectively coordinating provision of policy
development and implementation across the different sectors.
Coordination issues include coherent regulation, funding and
staffing schemes and a common vision of care and education.
Effective coordination must exist among sectors at both national
and local level, and also between public and private
establishments. Cross-sectoral coordination is difficult,
especially at the national level. It is one of the main
challenges facing governments of both developed and developing
countries trying to promote a holistic approach to early
childhood. Responses vary and some countries have sought to
remove the problem by integrating sectoral responsibilities into
a single ministry. Other countries divide sectoral