While
exploring the UNESCO Early Childhood Education website (http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood/),
I read an article about the three most important skills a child should learn
and the perspectives from professionals around the world. Sikander Sabeer,
National Youth Movement for UN, from Sri Lanka, stated that children need to
learn about culture, values and respect, and history. Urvashi Sahni, Study Hall
Education Foundation, from India, stated children needed to learn how to think
crticially, learn how to be literate and numerate, be problems-solvers, and be
resilient. Vutha Lay, NGO Education Partnership, from Cambodia, stated children
need soft skills to be good citizens, vocational skills for employment, and
education. It was interesting to see different perspectives and realize the
other professionals around the world have the same views on important skills
needed by children.
Another topic
that was interesting is the global reach for developing goals and targets for
early childhood education. 250 delegates from the Global Meeting on Education
for All in Muscat, Oman drafted the Muscat Agreement (http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood/single-view/news/key_milestones_reached_for_new_education_goals/).
The goals and targets of the Muscat Agreement included:
- - Early
Childhood Education
o
Target
1: By 2030, at least x% of girls and boys are ready for primary school through participation
in early childhood care and education.
- - Basic
Education
o
Target
2: By 2030, all girls and boys complete free and compulsory quality basic
education of at least 9 years and achieve learning outcomes, with particular
attention to gender equality and the most marginalized
- - Youth
and Adult Literacy
o
Target
3: By 2030, all youth and at least x% of adults reach a proficiency level in
literacy and numeracy sufficient to full participation in society, with
particular attention to girls and women and the most marginalized
- - Skills
for Work:
o
Target
4: By 2030, at least x% of youth and x% of adults have the knowledge and skills
for decent work and life through technical and vocational, upper secondary and
tertiary education and training, with particular attention to gender equality
and the most marginalized
- - Skills
for citizenship and sustainable development
o
Target
5: By 2030, all learners acquire knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes to
establish sustainable and peaceful societies, including through global
citizenship education and education for sustainable development
- - Teachers
o
Target
6: By 2030, all governments ensure that all learners are taught by qualified,
professionally-trained, motivated, and well-supported teachers
- - Financing
of Education
o
Target
7: By 2030, all countries allocate at least 4-6% of their Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) or at least 15-20% of their public expenditure to education,
prioritizing groups most in need; strengthen financial cooperation for
education, prioritizing countries most in need
A final
topic that I found interesting on the UNESCO website was UNESCO’s Big Push
workshop (http://www.unesco.org/new/en/dakar/about-this-office/single-view/news/big_push_workshop_to_accelerate_early_childhood_care_and_education_in_africa/#.U6NKaxY4gds)
to help accelerate childhood care and
education in Africa. The Big Push workshop focuses on providing training on local
early childhood care and education. The training modules provided during the
workshop have the goal of build relationships
among parents, older relations, and extended family members, elders in the
household, older siblings, including helpers and interested stakeholders who
can read and write in their local language. UNESCO focuses on learning that can
be home, community of institutional based.
These three
topics are important for early childhood professional. I believe we need to
look beyond our borders and recognize the unique needs of countries throughout
the world. Some countries may not have the economic means to provide similar programs,
but they may have their own program for use to learn from. It is also important
to recognize organization that have a local reach in providing education for
young children, and the impact the organization has had on the career field.
Hi Tanya,
ReplyDeleteI visited the website, too. I looked at the topics that are your first two because I thought they were important to discuss, as well. The professionals stressed that children need social and life skills, etc. I enjoyed reading the areas. One are that you covered was the Big Push workshop and they help train on care and eduction. UNESCO seems to care about the education that the children should receive and that is wonderful. Quality is needed all over. Enjoyed the blog.
Tanya,
ReplyDeleteEarly Childhood Care and Education is having a hard time in Africa. Only a little more than one out of four African child aged between 0-8 get a chance to attend some kind of pre school activities. But the situation differs enormously between countries and region.
Tanya thanks for providing precise information on UNESCO. Demographically culture, values, and respect strongly effects the dynamics of orientation for all mankind. Generally, no culture is ever the same and EC professionals are responsible to be non-bias by displaying culture diverse aspects through educational programs. Hence, what are some of your professional goals?
ReplyDeleteI found the international responses to the early childhood skills question fascinating. Interpreting what the culture and value systems of each individual country prioritize as learning goals not only brings us all together, but can often tear us apart. Specifically, here in the United States, we are challenged with being culturally responsive in our early childhood programs and must create a balance between all represented cultures in our programs. While I can personally find value in everyone's opinion of critical skill sets, based on the scenario or environment, we will continue to be plagued by bias, conflicts of interest, in conjunction with a passion for the greater good when developing effective programming. Thank you for the valuable information.
ReplyDeleteHi Tanya, thank you for sharing the information that you found on the UNESCO website. This was my first experience visiting this website and I found it to have so much interesting information. I think that I need more time to really explore it more thoroughly. Due to the fact that there is so much information on the website, it was great to get your perspective on what I missed.
ReplyDeleteI found it interesting that the countries like Sri Lanka focus on children learning bout culture, values, and respect. I like the skills that many of these countries focus on. I find these are pieces that we are sometimes missing.
Thank you for sharing the information you found!
Take care,
Stephanie
Tanya,
ReplyDeleteI too agree that I was a little surprised that other early childhood professionals around the world have the same views on what skills a child need. To see culture, history, respect and values is important to all educators. I was so impressed by the Mascot Agreement. What target goal did you think will be beneficial for the children or educators in the United States? This is an organization that really tries to make a difference in a child's life no matter where that child lives. It is also nice to see that improving early childhood education is a global issue. I hope those targets goals will be achieved by 2030. Do feel that this is a possibilty?