My professional goal to improve the lives of children and families in my community echoes the initiatives of UNESCO, even in underdeveloped nations. UNESCO gathers the advocates for children's rights internationally, all striving to achieve the best care for the youngest population that can propel communities toward better lives for all. The website outlines the efforts to strengthen education systems, and stresses the inclusion of early childhood care and education as part of the government-sponsored programs for elementary to high school aged students. There are universal issues with regard to access, quality, and funding. Typically, the poorest children have the least access to early education, and many government-sponsored programs are directed at serving poor communities. Vietnam's national early childhood policy is less focused on universal access than on providing supports to poor children in the effort to eradicate poverty (UNESCO, 2005), such as our local child care voucher programs are aimed at keeping parents employed, and Head Start is offered to families in poverty to closed the school achievement gap between poor children and those from families with higher incomes. There is not full consensus on the government's role in funding early childhood education efforts. In the report, Market Control is Not an Option, participants in the World Conference on Early childhood Care and Education in Moscow concurred that the cost of care is prohibitive to many parents, making the government the most likely source of funding accessible, quality care. UNESCO's Investment statement,however, indicated that services delivered by the private sector are often more efficient than governments, and that governments may provide complementary funding to assure even quality and access.
Three insights I have gained by exploring UNESCO's site relating to my professional goal of being an agent of change in early childhood to better my community are that the recognition of the impact of early childhood on the success of the community is evolving around the world, that access and quality issues are large enough to be discussed at world forums, and that the same political polarities that exist in the U.S. about funding this important element of our well-being divide nations abroad, as well. Those who continue to advocate for early care and education are all in good company of committed individuals world-wide.
Reference:
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood/
3 comments:
I too studied this website this week. It has definitely hit home that early childhood care and education is a world wide issue.
I think we are definitely seeing issues with early childhood education as worldwide because, as you said, of the impact that early childhood has on the community. For international countries, access is a challenge for many families due to socioeconomic and financial abilities, an issue that organizations such as UNESCO are striving to work toward decreasing around the world.
Caitlin
I also explored the UNESCO website. The issue of access to services is one issue that caught my attention. As our studies over the past few months have shown, early intervention focused on those children living in poverty is most beneficial. According to the website, "Participating countries committed themselves to 'expanding and improving comprehensive early childhood care and education, especially for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children.'" (UNESCO, n.d.) Very important work!!
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