The website
for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO) provided me with information about the early childhood field. UNESCO is one of the prominent organizations
that leads the international policy initiative for an integrated early
childhood care and education system that incorporates both the well-being and whole
development of the child. UNESCO mission is to support early childhood policy development
which focuses on building a solid foundation for children to become lifelong
learners.
UNESCO
advocates for Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programs that address
issues like health, nutrition, security and learning that provides children
with holistic development. UNESCO ‘’organized
the first World Conference on ECCE in September 2010, which culminated in the
adoption of a global action agenda for ECCE called Moscow Framework for Action
and Cooperation: Harnessing the Wealth of Nations’’("United nations
educational,"). In addition, ‘’UNESCO
works in partnership with Member States, partners and other stakeholders to
encourage timely and effective implementation of the Moscow Framework so that
all young children develop their potential to the fullest’’ ("United
nations educational,").
The
website provided me with some insight that I can use to better accommodate the
individual needs of children and their families. For instance, the website provided detailed information
about access, equity, and quality in early childhood education. According to UNESCO, ‘’Privileged children of the target age group
benefit from state investment, while poor children of non-target ages receive
scant government attention. A policy of universalization with targeting can minimize
inequity where governments aim for universal access among the target age group,
but simultaneously priorities the poor’’ ("United nations educational,")
. Knowing this information, I feel even
more compelled to continue providing quality early childhood care in my home to
low income children and their families as an attempt to bridge the achievement gap
between socioeconomic classes. In addition,
UNESCO suggested ‘’there are no
universally agreed criteria for quantifying ECCE quality but useful factors to
consider include pedagogy materials, personnel training, service setting and
parental education and involvement. Learning materials should be
quantitatively, culturally and developmentally adequate and focus on child-centered
interaction’’ ("United nations educational,"). This information has contributed to my career
as an early childhood professional by providing me with the framework for
defining quality in early childhood education as well as a framework for what I
need to consider when creating a learning environment for the children and
families I serve.
Reference
United nations educational, scientific
and cultural organization. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/
Trinese,
ReplyDeleteIt has been my experience that the poorest get government supports, the richest can afford quality childcare and education, and it’s the children that fit in the gap in the middle that I worry about the most. They are not poor enough for government help and not rich enough to be able to afford high-quality care. I hope that someday we will be able to close the gap and all children will reap the benefits of high-quality early childhood education and care.
Lucinda
I really enjoyed this website too! There was so much information about it. I even went to some of the other areas that were not just about education. I loved all of the little mini articles that it. I will definitely be storing this site away for use during my future career!
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