Final Blog Assignment

Hi Friends and colleagues,

It has been a wonderful 8 weeks of collaboration. I sincerely appreciate my Professor (Dr Myers Joyce) , classmates, colleagues and other international partners. To Magdalene and Abioye, I bless God that Nigeria has people like you and hope that your passion to improve the world of children will continue to burn. Now, I am better informed about many issues affecting early childhood care and education and through the resources and international collaboration; I have learnt how other countries tackle theirs. Except for few countries that are having challenges like war and poverty, most countries have come to agree that early years care and education is fundamental and critical for productive adulthood. However the common challenge is cost, access and quality. Australia is indeed taking great strides in realizing their vision of professionalizing the industry and I hope that other countries will emulate them.

I am particularly delighted to hear from one of my mentors that Nigerian federal government is sponsoring training in early childhood. This is indeed a welcome development. Many developing countries like Nigeria are still at the level of getting competent workforce that can implement the appropriate practice.

I have also been exposed to many opportunities in this field and I intend to utilize then to positively influence the lives of children. Thanks to networking and collaboration……… One goal I foresee for the field is to professionalise us and possibly have a universal standard in the very near future. Finally, I look forward to when the public can appreciate the difference between baby sitting and early childhood profession. Our communities can only appreciate the difference through experience. I believe in a just world for all children, I believe in our future.

An update from last week.

I received a response from one of my mentors who is currently doing a PHD in early childhood. Her replies to last week’s questions are as follows:

Issues affecting early childhood in Nigeria are – Dearth of professionals in the field, Non-implementation of the country's Integrated Early Childhood Development and Education (IECD) curriculum, Non-participation of government in the operation of Early Childhood Education (ECE), Operation of ECE by quacks and absence of standard in the operation of the program by private operators.

Moving forward: The federal government is making effort to sponsor as many people as possible that are willing to undergo training in the field through Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND).

Operate a non-profit organization (NGO) that will monitor grassroots implementation of ECE.

Hopes and Dreams: Finally, I hope to become a renowned specialist in the field, and be able to float one of the most outstanding NGO on the implementation of ECE programs.

Once again, thank you all. I wish you merry charismas and an equitable quality service to all children. I love you all. In the spirit of Christmas please watch this video, it’s thrilling. We are the reason for the season.