Saturday, October 19, 2013

Getting to Know Your International Contacts—Part 3

Share at least three new ideas or insights you gained about issues related to international early childhood education that relate to your professional goals.

While researching this site I was surprised to learn that early childhood education was not a priority for children in developing countries.  The 1990 Jomtien Declaration on Education for All (EFA) stated that countries should view early childhood as part of basic education. Once countries recognize the positive value of state investment in this area, the next challenge is to mobilize funds. In general, government funding for early childhood is extremely small. For this reason approaching the private sector (non-profit and for-profit) can be an effective strategy (2013).

While reading about training teachers in Africa, it doesn’t occur to me that the lessons that students-teachers learn is slightly different from what is taught in America. Learning how to prepare lesson plans for a climate change and how to conduct a field trip is more important for that environment than something such as play theory.

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.

http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood/



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