Forty-four percent of families with children under seven years old have no books about education of child, while nine percent of children had never had at least a toy. These data results from a study carried out by the UNICEF Representation in Moldova and National Council for Protection of Children's Rights unveiled on Friday at a national conference.

The UNICEF representative in Moldova, Giovanna Barberis, said that the lack of education opportunities and few knowledge of parents regarding care and early stimulation of children harm the development of children.

"The development indicators of children are relevant for perspectives of economic and social development of a country. Investments in development of children at earliest ages bring important long-term benefits - development of entire potential of citizens, outrunning of poverty obstacles and insurance of respect for human rights," Barberis noted. "Poverty has several fronts - malnutrition, diseases, lack of education opportunities, and even violence against children and women. Children are the shortest way to defeat of poverty and prosperity of a country," Barberis added.

According to the study, the most of children are deprived of the possibility to participate in early education programmes. Only 35 percent of children between three and seven years old attend education programmes for these ages. Only 22.9 percent of children in rural areas take part in programmes of this kind, compared with 54.3 percent in cities, and only 17 percent of children from poor families participate in these programmes compared with 55.6 percent from families with better living standards.

The study shows that only five out of ten children are ready for school.