Still no reply from my international contact, I will continue to keep hop alive that I may hear from them even if it's after this course is completed. I would still like to ask them some questions about the issues and treads in early childhood in their community. The alternative assignment for this week was to explore the(http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood/), website and provide some insight on some things I've learned about issues related to international early childhood education that relate to your professional goals.
1.) I already knew that age birth to age 8 is a important time in development for children but I learned that from prenatal to age 15
is just as important. Planning early interventions is crucial in laying the foundation for quality education; especially in places where "12,000 African children die every day under conditions that could have been avoided – the equivalent of a Boeing 747 crashing every hour". These are the current conditions children in Africa face on a daily bases; to know that these conditions can be avoided with early intervention is sad that changes are not being made or if they are being made its at a very slow rate.
2.) “Teachers are the single most influential and powerful force for equity, access and quality in education”, says Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO. I couldn't have said this better myself and apparently the US is not the only place where we need to remind policy makers of the importance of teachers and what an important job we have in building the future leaders of our countries. In the future I see myself doing a lot of advocating for chances to be made in this area. People demand high quality in poor working conditions and this just does not balance out all the time.
3.)UNESCO’s Regional Bureau of Education is currently trying to "formulate educational policies that encourage respect for cultural diversity and the construction of increasingly more intercultural and inclusive societies". One of their goals is to create a policy that will embrace other cultures and to view them as an asset as oppose to a burden. Now that I 'am aware of ways to increase access to preschool I will work with my teachers and inform them on building relationships and outreach in my community.
Hi Cherish!
ReplyDeleteI hope you get a response from one of the international early childhood professionals that you contacted. I haven't received any response either but like you I would love to be able to have a discussion with them, even if it is after the course. You did a great job explaining the information that you found on the UNESCO's website. The fact that you provided that stated the amount of children in Africa who die daily is equivalent to a Boeing 747 crashing every hour is astounding. I really hope that early childhood education, and education in general, is made more easily accessible and common in those areas sooner than later. The children would benefit so much from it and many would avoid meeting this awful fate.
The comparison made between the children dying in Africa and the crashing of a Boeing is heart riveting. I believe UNESCO can make a difference in that region with the help of others. Making a social change does not only speak to ones' neighborhood but also to any region that an impact can be made, and one could definitely be made in Africa.
ReplyDelete