One of my ideas to solve the shortage in qualified early
childhood education programs available for communities who suffer from a lack
of access due both to geography and affordability was to look to the mothers
and teachers who live in the community to develop a network of cooperative home
daycare schools where children can receive quality care within a walking radius
of their homes. In lieu of this model, plenty
of properly trained caregivers in community based centers are needed to meet
the needs of families in terms of preschool education.
In reading
about the research being done in international communities I came across work
being done in Ghana to train community volunteers and informal child minders who
are responsible for the care of children in the community. Many communities do not have centers. The research done attempted to analyze the
knowledge and capabilities of the centers that were open and to create a
training program which could be used to open centers in areas that needed
it. I was struck that the situation is similar
to the situation in many places in the United States – lack of access. However, the IM and CV in Ghana, according to
the research, tended to be under educated about child education and welfare, though
eager and willing to learn.
In
comparing/contrasting the issues in Ghana’s ECE system with ours I wonder why,
in 2014, ECE is still an issue. Why is
it that with all our technology and philosophy and thousands of years on the earth,
this society has still not solved the education problem? What I realize is that as a species we are
still very young – we are still developing basics like education.
Shahrazad,
ReplyDeleteGreat information. I too am concerned that with all of the technology and philosophy we have that the education issue in the U.S. is still a problem. It is sad that countries just don't have the access to be able educate.