Hello class, I hope everyone has had a wonderful week.
I know I have and I am looking forward to enjoying my weekend also in our
Nation’s capital. Unfortunately I was not able to pull up the podcast once
again so I had to choose the other alternative, which was to explore the website
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood/.
I found this website to be very informative on the field of early childhood
education. The first thing I saw that sparked my interest was that, the declaration was announced at the
conclusion of the Asia-Pacific Regional Policy Forum on ECCE, which took place
in Putrajaya, Malaysia on 19-21 July, 2016. It includes an action agenda to
guide countries as they seek to achieve Sustainable Development Goal target
4.2: “By 2030 ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early
childhood development, care and pre-primary education so that they are ready
for primary education (http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood/single-view/news/asia_pacific_policy_makers_sign_putrajaya_declaration_on_ear/).”
Which I think is absolutely wonderful The plan includes guidelines for more
inclusive, integrated and multi-sectoral ECCE policies; improving ECCE quality
for all; strengthening infrastructure, increasing government expenditure while
forging financing partnerships; monitoring and evaluating progress toward the
target; improving data collection and analysis; awareness-raising, and
developing a regional framework for SDG 4.2(http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood/single-view/news/asia_pacific_policy_makers_sign_putrajaya_declaration_on_ear/).
I am so glad that their government see the significance and need for early childhood.
I just hope that they don’t run into trouble with funding, but being that they
already have a plan maybe they already have in mind how they will allocate the
finds so that the program is ran efficiently. I wish that I could travel to
their country to experience how their early childhood classrooms are set up.
Maybe one day I will get the chance to travel over there and maybe even do some
teaching.
Secondly
I saw that the United Nations are also taking even more interest in educational
system. The event, “SDG 4 – Education 2030: What policies and data to ensure
that no one is left behind?”, organized by UNESCO and UNICEF on the sidelines
of the first High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), brought together the Prime
Minister of Norway Erna Solberg, the President of the UN Economic and Social
Council Ambassador Oh Joon and high-ranking representatives from government, UN
agencies and the Global Partnership for Education. It was sponsored by the
Republic of Korea, Morocco and Norway (http://www.unesco.org/new/en/media-services/single-view/news/milestone_meeting_on_new_education_agenda_highlights_equity/#.V652m02V9Ms).
Prime Minister Erna Solberg said: "Equity in education is the key to
unlocking opportunities for everybody to enjoy a better life, across the globe,
no matter in which country" (http://www.unesco.org/new/en/media-services/single-view/news/milestone_meeting_on_new_education_agenda_highlights_equity/#.V652m02V9Ms).
From what I gathered from the article they are pushing to get more funding for
their educational system, because they see the need for all children to get an
quality education. I then came across Indonesian project, Improving Access
and Quality of Girls' Education through Community-Based Early Childhood
Education and Early-Year Gender Mainstreaming, which received one of two
awards given out under the first edition of the UNESCO Prize for Girls’ and
Women’s Education, This project is
headed by Ms Yulaelawati (http://www.unesco.org/new/en/media-services/single-view/news/unesco_prize_winner_makes_way_for_girls_in_early_childhood_e/#.V65-bU2V9Ms).
The project, from the Directorate of Early Childhood Education Development in
Jakarta, aims to improve girls’ access to and quality of education in the
long-term through gender mainstreaming from birth to eight years of age. It
targets girls and boys, teachers, mothers, the community and education
administrators in five provinces of the country through early socialization,
training, workshops and multi-media campaigns (http://www.unesco.org/new/en/media-services/single-view/news/unesco_prize_winner_makes_way_for_girls_in_early_childhood_e/#.V65-bU2V9Ms).
I think this is a wonderful program being that it gives young girls a boost to
their self-esteem, and also helps them to get a feel of what the early childhood
education program is and what it stands for. Especially since their country
really isn’t big on the early childhood field. This program reminds me of the
program that is at the high school that I attended. The students get a chance
to not only earn their credentials to work in child cares, but they get a
chance assist teachers at the local Head Start/Early Head Start’s. I hope there
are more programs created like this so we can recruit more people to enter the
early childhood education field.
References
All around I think that UNESCO is working towards a wonderful goal of educating the world. I have yet to see an organization primarily focused on international education and the focus of advocacy to the extent that UNESCO has committed itself. I am primarily impressed with the push towards HIV and AIDS education and the support it provides each country. UNESCO carries out its goals to educate about HIV and AIDS through the Getting to Zero, the UNAIDS roadmap to 2015. This topic is one that is close to me and I am impressed that UNESCO has taken an interest to educate the world about this disease.
ReplyDeleteI also read the first article that you discussed. I hope that they really work to implement many of the policies that were stated in the article. I also attended a school that offered an early childhood program for high school students, I did not take the classes but I have seen how it has inspired others to continue their education in early childhood education even after graduating high school.
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