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Ms. Molly Carr, Greater Accra Regional Manager of Methodist Schools, at the weekend, said greater attention should be given to the early years of the child, in order to promote his or her survival, growth, development and protection. A holistic approach, she said, must be taken by stakeholders in education to see to the needs of children, since they constituted the future leadership and workforce of the nation. Ms Carr made the call at the First Graduation of Bethel Methodist School at Community Eight in Tema, under the theme: �Three Years of Child Development-Holistic Approach�. The ceremony witnessed the graduation of kindergarten pupils, including three girls, who would be the pioneers of the Bethel Methodist Primary School which takes off in the 2009-10 academic year in mid-September. Ms Carr observed that Early Childhood Education and Child Care, were now widely seen not only to be among the central social needs of every nation, but had also become an integral part of the educational system in most countries of the world, including Ghana. She explained that Early Childhood Care and Development was an integral process made up of physical, psychological and emotional components of a child, where shared responsibilities of the family, community and the nation, were identified, and steps taken to respond adequately to the needs of children. She said, �it marked the beginning of a child�s education development, a stage where his or her potential, could be unearthed�. Ms. Carr defined �Early Childhood Care and Development� as the �holistic development of children, including physical, cognitive, language, social and emotional development from conception to age five�. The Regional Manager of Methodist Schools pointed out that how children were raised strongly influenced their emotional, social, behavioural, physical and even intellectual capabilities. She, therefore, urged stakeholders to play their role effectively in the holistic development of children to enable them grow into responsible adults, who would eventually contribute their quota to national development and progress. The Very Reverend Samuel Aidoo-Bervell, Superintendent Minister, Bethel Methodist Church, said as part of its social responsibility, the Church had provided street lights for residents in Community Eight. Very Rev Aidoo-Bervell said in order to inculcate in the children, Christian principles and values, the Church had constructed a four-classroom block, at an estimated cost of 200,000 Ghana Cedis (two billion old cedis). The Superintendent Minister indicated that parents and guardians of more than 80 beginners would be expected to pay whatever they could afford for their wards� education. This, he said, was because everything at the school was heavily subsidized by the Church. Mr Rexford Richard Amponsah, Society Steward of the Church, who chaired the function, assured the congregation that the children would be given quality education to enable them aspire to greater heights in future. Very Rev Aidoo-Bervell later presented the kindergarten graduants with Certificates.