MKs unveil new early childhood authority

The announcement comes following a petition organized by the Israeli Association for the Young Child, headed by Dr. Tamar Erez.

By LIDAR GRAVÉ-LAZI
A father holds his child [Illustrative] (photo credit: INGIMAGE)
A father holds his child [Illustrative]
(photo credit: INGIMAGE)
Members of Knesset called a press conference on Tuesday to announce the establishment of an authority for early child - hood, which will oversee day care centers and issues relating to children between the ages of 0 and 3.
The announcement was made by MK Ya’acov Margi (Shas), chairman of the Knesset Education, Culture and Sports Committee, along with MK Eli Alalouf (Kulanu), chairman of the Knesset Labor, Welfare and Health Committee and MK Prof. Manuel Trajtenberg (Zionist Union).
The announcement comes following a petition organized by the Israeli Association for the Young Child, headed by Dr. Tamar Erez. It was signed by some 1,200 education pro - fessionals, who have called to establish an organization to oversee early childhood devel - opment issues.
The Knesset members will send the petition to Prime Min - ister Benjamin Netanyahu and to the Ministerial Committee for Legislation on Sunday to approve the establishment of the authority.
“It is now clear beyond a doubt that the socioeconomic disparities are a direct result of what was done in early child - hood,” said Trajtenberg on Tuesday.
“If the state seeks genuine equal opportunities and to reduce the gaps, it must take responsibility for the field and formulate a comprehensive policy with a systemic and multi-disciplinary approach which is centered on the child,” he said.
MK Alalouf added that this signified a “new era of real change.”
“Our goal is to have one policy and one umbrella organization that will take care of all chil - dren from the ages of 0 to 3,” he said. “This important step was taken in cooperation with a number of Knesset members and professional bodies, and now we will take responsibility for our children.”
MK Margi said this was the “opportune moment” to address the issue and take action, and said “the coopera - tion between the three of us is important to the success of the move.”
“Reversing the pyramid to invest in the young ages does not happen alone, and we need to push this,” he said.