Getting to Know Your International Contacts—Part 3 week 7

The Pod cast talks about equity and excellence within the early childhood field and what professionals can do to enhance the field. Dr. Vasquez encourages early childhood professionals to be more assertive and take action against how we are being viewed as early childhood professionals. She helps us to understand that we are more than baby sitters and we do does not lack being professional. Although some progress is being made in relation to how we are viewed there is still work to be done. In this field we have to show what we are doing. Help others understand the process of what it takes to educate young children.

 Dr. Vasquez also so explains the human value of early childhood education. She helps us understand that it is important to go to school and receiving necessary training but human value, which can’t be taught, is also an important part of working in the early childhood field. It is equally important to respect and value professionals who have been in the field for many years and those who are new to the field, both bring a different contribution to the early childhood field. We should be able to make this transition without wasting or devaluing important resources already in place.

 

According to the international website UNESCO, universally agreed on criteria for quantifying ECCE quality does not exist, but they take into useful factors such as personnel training, pedagogy materials, parental education and involvement, and service setting. Learning materials is culturally and developmentally appropriate, focusing on child-centered interactions.

In areas where government resources are limited efforts are made to have pre-primary education placed in more formal settings or have the age of entry into the program lowered.

Because they can be pedagogically innovative and cost effective, the promotion of alternative services to under privileged children often raise concerns about sustainability and quality, In these cases a policies are put in place that allows the government to redistribute resources by reducing the amount of funds available to those who are more privileged.

References:

Course Media: "Excellence and Equity of Care and Education for Children and Families—Part 3" (approximate length: 12 minutes). Conversation with Delila Vasquez (Director of Program Services, Los Angeles Universal Preschool) about issues of equity and excellence related to EC professionals.

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood/