Bite off only as much
as you can chew” Gambia’s Government Policy on Early Childhood.
This week, while waiting
for my conversational partner’s feedback, I visited UNESCO website. The topic “Bite
off only as much as you can chew” caught my attention as a new insight in my
early childhood studies. This is a statement by Gambian government in defence
of its proposed program called Integrated Early Childhood Development (IECD). Presently,
IECD comprise of programs for 0 to 2years (to be run in clinics and private
care centres) and Early Childhood Development Centres (ECD centres) for
children aged 3 to 6 and will be situated within primary school premises. The age
3 to 6 programs will be managed solely by the Government while the private
sector will be responsible for 0 to 2 years programs. The ECD centres will have nothing to do with
academic works. It will be purely developmental curriculum and will be managed
by primary school teachers that will be trained on early years development. In Gambia,
official primary schooling begins at age 7.
I found having an ECD center very interesting
because one of my professional goals is to help parents in the area of development
in early years. Every now and then I observe ignorant parents do what they
considered best for themselves and their children without knowing that it is
detrimental to the children’s development. I will like to have such a center
that will focus on development of early years. I equally believe that if early
childhood professionals should focus on children development first…… instead of
education, we can be more of a specialised service that is different from
teaching. I will definitely follow up to understand how to set up such program.
Another insight is a
statement on children’s right to childhood from International Institute for Educational
Planning (part of UNESCO).
“Childhood is not
considered as stage of transition to adulthood, but as a moment of life with
value itself”
This statement is very
appropriate. Many parents seem in a hurry for children to move to adulthood. I met
a woman that sent a child of 8years plus to secondary school jumping primary
5and 6. And I when I confronted her, she said she wants her kids to be adult as
soon as possible. I was dazed at what matters to some “Parents”. Government (especially
developing countries like mine) should educate the public on the importance of
childhood and possibly enact a law that prevents parents and guardians from
forcing children into adulthood for their own selfish interest. When these
children are grown, the impact of not being a child during childhood will definitely
affect everybody directly or indirectly..
Vivian, I hope that you do post the responses from your contacts. I reviewed the UNESCO website as well and, I enjoyed your review of the website however, I found your statement that we as early childhood professionals should somehow focus less on education and more on child development a bit disheartening. As early childhood professionals many of us serve as teachers rather in child care centers or in school systems. I believe that during the early childhood years children develop their passion for learning and, education. I think it is important that we focus on education and, encouraging the pursuit of knowledge to young children.
ReplyDeleteMellissa, thanks for your input. i hope you did not misunderstood me. lack of defined roles of early childhood professional is one of the reasons we have a lot of debate. if you are purely a teacher, then just focus on educating the children the academics. i am a trained teacher but my interest in early years is more of their optimal development.
DeleteHello, I like how you describe childhood stage as a more important stage other than a mere adulthood transition. Thank you for an interesting post
ReplyDelete