scholarly journals Problems and Prospects in Early Childhood Education Provisioning in Turkey and South Africa

2015 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
pp. 444-457
Author(s):  
Corinne Meier ◽  
Eleanor Lemmer ◽  
Demet Gören Niron
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
Early Childhood Development ◽  
Systems Approach ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
The United States ◽  
Childhood Development ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
The Us ◽  
Made In

The benefits of early childhood development (ECD) programmes are strongly supported by evidence of reduced school dropout and repetition rates. However, the literature on ECD is primarily grounded in research based in the United States (US); in the light of this gap in the literature, this paper provides a comparative overview of ECD policy and practice from outside of the US, namely in South Africa and Turkey. As a theoretical framework the paper has followed the World Bank’s Systems Approach for Better Education Results (SABER)-ECD Analytical Framework. Findings indicate that both countries have established an enabling policy environment for ECD but implementation and the setting of and compliance to standards for quality is still emerging, in spite of massive strides made in this field during the past fifteen years.

scholarly journals A Critical Analysis of Key Policies Shaping Services for Young Children with Disabilities in South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Philpott ◽  
Nithi Muthukrishna
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
Young Children ◽  
Children With Disabilities ◽  
Early Childhood Development ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
White Paper ◽  
Childhood Development ◽  
Persons With Disabilities ◽  
Young Children With Disabilities

There have been significant recent developments in the policy arena in South Africa in respect of disability and of early childhood development viz. the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the National Integrated Early Childhood Development Policy. Using Bacchi’s analytical framework encapsulated in the question, What’s the problem represented to be?, these policies were subjected to scrutiny, analysing how disability and inclusion are represented within them, and how these representations shape the lives of young children with disabilities. Among the underlying assumptions contained in these policies is that barriers excluding persons with disabilities are socially constructed and their removal will result in inclusion. Further, the policies imply that marginalisation and vulnerability are inherent traits of children with disabilities. Inclusion is portrayed as an ideology rather than a practice.  Amongst unproblematised elements of the polices is the supposition that children with disabilities are a homogenous group, and that there is a distinction between children with and without disabilities. The effects of these representations manifest in a focus on social barriers, which downplays the importance of habilitation and rehabilitation for the individual child and may result in children with disabilities being portrayed as passive recipients of services. It may also undermine choice and agency of children and their families.  Further, the analysis indicates that defining the principle of inclusion too broadly makes it difficult to measure.

How We Fail Our Children Part I—The Caretaking Young Children Need

2020 ◽  
pp. 92-118
Author(s):  
Maxine Eichner
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
Young Children ◽  
Family Policy ◽  
Early Childhood Development ◽  
Free Market ◽  
The United States ◽  
Work Hours ◽  
Childhood Development ◽  
High Quality

A question for any thriving society is how to ensure that children have the things they need to do their best. Two different approaches, pro-family policy and free-market family policy, claim to satisfy children’s needs well. Countries with pro-family policy go out of their way to make it easy for parents to spend time with their children when kids most need it, as well as to provide them high-quality caretaking while parents work, and generous material support. In contrast, under free-market family policy, the United States expects parents to negotiate these conditions on their own, privately arranging for time off from work, reasonable work hours, caregiving while they work, and enough cash to support their kids. This chapter uses recent research on early childhood development to construct a list of the caretaking conditions that help young children thrive. It then considers the extent to which children receive these conditions under free-market family policy versus pro-family policy. Ultimately, it turns out that by far the biggest casualties of free-market family policy are our children.

scholarly journals Pathways to a more peaceful and sustainable world: The transformative power of children in families

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Pia R. Britto ◽  
Suna Hanöz-Penney ◽  
Liliana Angelica Ponguta ◽  
Diane Sunar ◽  
Ghassan Issa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
Child Development ◽  
Young Children ◽  
Early Childhood Development ◽  
The United States ◽  
Childhood Development ◽  
Policy Advocacy ◽  
Children And Families ◽  
Transformative Power

Abstract This article provides an overview of selected ongoing international efforts that have been inspired by Edward Zigler's vision to improve programs and policies for young children and families in the United States. The efforts presented are in close alignment with three strategies articulated by Edward Zigler: (a) conduct research that will inform policy advocacy; (b) design, implement, and revise quality early childhood development (ECD) programs; and (c) invest in building the next generation of scholars and advocates in child development. The intergenerational legacy left by Edward Zigler has had an impact on young children not only in the United States, but also across the globe. More needs to be done. We need to work together with a full commitment to ensure the optimal development of each child.

scholarly journals Informal community-based early childhood development as a focus for urban public theology in South Africa

2014 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
J.P. Van der Walt ◽  
Ignatius Swart ◽  
Stephan De Beer
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
Early Childhood Development ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Urban Setting ◽  
Childhood Development ◽  
Public Theology ◽  
Specific Situation ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Informal Community

This article highlights important dimensions of public theology and shows how the identified dimensions are relevant to the specific situation of informal early childhood development (ECD) facilities in a South African urban setting. The article considers the contributions and challenges of informal community-based ECD on the basis of research conducted in the Rustenburg/Phokeng area of the North West province of South Africa. It critically discusses the sociocultural discourses and legislation regulating ECD centres, by focusing on the constraints put on informal ECD service providers. It concludes by considering ways in which urban public theology should act to serve, strengthen and advocate this vitally important, yet informal, sector.

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