Quality of Early Childhood Care and Education in Jigjiga, Harar and Dire-Dawa Cities of Ethiopia

Early childhood care and education (ECCE) has a crucial contribution to the future life of children, and overall quality of learning and development of a country. Even though there are no well-established international criteria to evaluate the quality of ECCE programmes because of the variability in nations’ economies, workforces, political regimes and cultures, there are some common standards. Therefore, the purpose of this review article is to assess the status of ECCE in Ethiopia and its contribution to quality education. This review is based on a document analysis from different sources (i.e. policy documents, books, journals, theses and dissertations). The study focuses on identifying common quality indicators/dimensions for ECCE and the challenges that Ethiopian ECCE faces in terms of these dimensions. Indicating that the practice of ECCE in Ethiopia is faced with diverse challenges. Some of the challenges are lack of proper training for teachers and caregivers; use of developmentally inappropriate curriculum; lack of pedagogical skill; unfavourable working conditions; inadequate resources; lack of continuous supervision and programme evaluation; inactive parental and community participation; ineffective school organisation and leadership; imbalanced staff-child ratios; and improper healthcare and hygiene. Therefore, the Ministry of Education (MoE) in partnership with the Ministry of Health (MoH), the Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MoWA), the community and other concerned bodies should work together to improve the practice of ECCE.

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Unveiling Malaysian parents’ perspectives on existing quality of early childhood care and education

Perspectives of science and education ◽

10.32744/pse.2021.1.22 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 49 (1) ◽

pp. 318-328

Author(s):

Dan Dan Tang ◽

◽

Mogana Dhamotharan ◽

Mohd Nazri Abdul Rahman ◽

◽

...

Keyword(s):

Early Childhood ◽

Teaching And Learning ◽

National Policy ◽

Legal Framework ◽

Parent Communication ◽

Deviation Analysis ◽

Early Childhood Care ◽

Childhood Care ◽

Group Interviews

Introduction. Early childhood care and education is majorly concerning around the world. Malaysian government has formulated childhood care and education national policy and legal framework to protect the rights of childhood. However, the Education Blueprint of Malaysia acknowledged that serious problems still remain with the quality of education and the investment in education is not as high as expected. The objective of the study is to investigate parents' perspectives of quality ECCE programs with regard to center characteristics of environment, teachers, principals, curriculum as well as parent's communication and involvement opportunities. Materials and methods. Study has selected mix method approach where parent perspectives of existing quality of early childhood care and education (ECCE) in the selected states of Malaysia been obtained. The 629 questionnaires samples were distributed among the parent 's having a child in a pre-school and 22 parents took part in the focus group interviews, designed to elicit their perspectives of ECCE programs with regard to center characteristics, environment, teachers, principals, and curriculum as well as parent involvement and communication opportunities Results. Demographically results shows 60.8% female and 39.2% male participants have contributed with 32% age 31-35 years old, about 38.1% Malay followed by 32.2% Chines and 18% Indian ethnicity races were part of this study. The standard deviation analysis indicated that Parents’s perceptive on Centre Characteristics is (M=4.039, SD= 0.796) Parents’ Views on Environment (M=3.582, SD=0.953); Parents’ Views on Teachers and Principals (M=4.197, SD=0.731) Parents’ Views on Curriculum ((M=3.735, SD=0.771) and Parents’ Views on Parent Communication and Involvement Opportunities (M=4.171, SD=0.630). The overall statistical analysis shows parents’ perceptive is satisfactory on the quality of ECCE programmes. Conclusion. Study has concluded that parents have found ECCE programmes much effective where children not only enjoy but their learning improves. Parents have appreciated the quality of hygiene level and facilities in pre-school are up to the mark and standard but further can be improved. Quality of curriculum should have multilingual instruction and play based teaching and learning is suggested by the parent’s to improve.

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Enhancing the Quality of Early Childhood Care and Education Globally

Childhood Education ◽

10.1080/00094056.2015.1069150 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 91 (4) ◽

pp. 235-237 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Belinda J. Hardin ◽

Dolores A. Stegelin ◽

Luciano Cecconi

Keyword(s):

Early Childhood ◽

Early Childhood Care ◽

Childhood Care

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Validating the teaching, learning, and assessment quality of Malaysian ECCE instrument

International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education (IJERE) ◽

10.11591/ijere.v10i1.20857 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 135

Author(s):

Hishamuddin Ahmad ◽

Nordin Mamat ◽

Mazlina Che Mustafa ◽

Syahida Iryani Mohd Yusoff

Keyword(s):

Early Childhood ◽

Education Quality ◽

Early Childhood Care ◽

Childhood Care ◽

Teaching Learning ◽

Polytomous Item Response ◽

Rating Model ◽

Variance Explained

<span>Several instruments that measure the teaching, learning, and assessment quality have been developed and published. However, a psychometrically sound instrument to measure teaching, learning, and assessment quality in early childhood care and education that suitable for the Malaysian context needs to be validated. Therefore, this study aimed to validate on teaching, learning, and assessment quality in early childhood care and education instrument, which contains 68 items. The sample comprised 3,498, selected by stratified random sampling from a population of all Malaysian kindergarten teachers. Data were analyzed based on the Polytomous Item Response Theory (IRT) using the Xcalibre software. Samejima's Graded Rating Model (SRGM) was found to be the fit model with the data. Unidimensionality assumption and local independence were tested using the exploratory factor analysis and were fulfilled. The instrument’s reliability was overall very good (α=0.966) and the construct validity was also fairly fulfilled with the value of 58.17% total variance explained. Therefore, this instrument is suggested to be used as fairly to measure the quality of Malaysian early childhood care and education among teachers so that appropriate follow-up actions can be implemented towards the betterment of early childhood education quality.</span>

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Early Childhood Learning Quality in Pandalungan Community

JPUD - Jurnal Pendidikan Usia Dini ◽

10.21009/jpud.132.07 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 296-309

Author(s):

Aisyah Nur Atika ◽

Khutobah ◽

Misno ◽

Haidor ◽

Lutfi Ariefianto ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Early Childhood ◽

Early Childhood Education ◽

Role Play ◽

Children And Youth ◽

Youth Services ◽

Childhood Education ◽

Early Childhood Care ◽

Childhood Care ◽

Early Childhood Learning

The challenge for rural communities to provide quality education for early childhood in Indonesia is difficult. National politics, policies, and economic and cultural conditions affect the Early Childhood Education system, and Indonesia is a large multicultural country, so, even the quality of education is difficult. This study aims to look at the quality of children's education in Pandalungan. Using qualitative methods with ethnographic design, data collection techniques using interviews, observation, and documentation. The results showed that educational institutions for children in urban areas can be categorized quite high. However, for early childhood education services in Desa Sukorambi Pandalungan, the quality is quite poor. Research suggestions are the need for follow-up related to social, economic, cultural and environmental factors at the level of Pandalungan community awareness of early childhood education. Keywords: Early Childhood, Learning Quality, Pandalungan Community References: Bernal, R., & Ramírez, S. M. (2019). Improving the quality of early childhood care at scale: The effects of “From Zero to Forever.” World Development, 118, 91–105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2019.02.012 Bers, M. U., González-González, C., & Armas-Torres, M. B. (2019). Coding as a playground: Promoting positive learning experiences in childhood classrooms. Computers and Education, 138, 130–145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2019.04.013 Biersteker, L., Dawes, A., Hendricks, L., & Tredoux, C. (2016). Center-based early childhood care and education program quality: A South African study. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 36, 334–344. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecresq.2016.01.004 Burchinal, M. (2018). Measuring Early Care and Education Quality. Child Development Perspectives, 12(1), 3–9. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdep.12260 Church, A., & Bateman, A. (2019). Methodology and professional development: Conversation Analytic Role-play Method (CARM) for early childhood education. Journal of Pragmatics, 143(xxxx), 242–254. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pragma.2019.01.022 Ciolan, L. E. (2013). Play to Learn, Learn to Play. Creating Better Opportunities for Learning in Early Childhood. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 76, 186–189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.04.096 Correia, N., Camilo, C., Aguiar, C., & Amaro, F. (2019). Children’s right to participate in early childhood education settings: A systematic review. Children and Youth Services Review, 100, 76–88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2019.02.031 Cycyk, L. M., & Hammer, C. S. (2018). Beliefs, values, and practices of Mexican immigrant families towards language and learning in toddlerhood: Setting the foundation for early childhood education. Early Childhood Research Quarterly. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecresq.2018.09.009 Dick, C. & C. (2009). The Sistematic Design Of Instruction. New Jersey: Upper Saddle River. Grindal, T., Bowne, J. B., Yoshikawa, H., Schindler, H. S., Duncan, G. J., Magnuson, K., & Shonkoff, J. P. (2016). The added impact of parenting education in early childhood education programs: A meta-analysis. Children and Youth Services Review, 70, 238–249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2016.09.018 Herbers, J. E., Cutuli, J. J., Jacobs, E. L., Tabachnick, A. R., & Kichline, T. (2019). Early childhood risk and later adaptation: A person-centered approach using latent profiles. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 62(January), 66–76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2019.01.003 Hunkin, E. (2018). Whose quality? The (mis)uses of quality reform in early childhood and education policy. Journal of Education Policy, 33(4), 443–456. https://doi.org/10.1080/02680939.2017.1352032 Johson, J. E, & Roopnarine, J. L. (2011). Pendidikan anak usia dini dalam berbagai pendekatan. Jakarta: Kencana Prenada Media Group. Lucas, F. M. M. (2017). The Game as an Early Childhood Learning Resource for Intercultural Education. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 237(June 2016), 908–913. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2017.02.127 Atwi Suparman. (2012). Desain Intruksional Modern. Jakarta: Erlangga. Mapiare, A. (2013). Tipe-tipe Metode Riset Kualitatif Untuk Eksplanasi Sosial Budaya Dan Bimbingan Konseling. Malang: Elang Emas & Prodi Bimbingan Dan Konseling Fakultas Ilmu Pendidikan Universitas Negeri Malang. Milner, K. M., Bhopal, S., Black, M., Dua, T., Gladstone, M., Hamadani, J., … Lawn, J. E. (2019). Counting outcomes, coverage and quality for early child development programmes. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 104, S3–S12. https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2018-315430 Morrison, G. S. (2012). Dasar-dasar Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini. Jakarta: Indeks. Nutbrown, C. (2011). Key Concepts in Early Childhood Education and Care (2nd ed.). London: SAGE Publication Ltd. Perpres. Pelaksanaan Pencapaian Tujuan Pembangunan Berkelanjutan. , 6 Peraturan Presiden RI § (2017). Puspita, W. A. (2013). Multikulturalisme dalam Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini. Jurnal Ilmiah VISI P2TK PAUDNI, 8(2), 144–152. Raikes, A., Sayre, R., Davis, D., Anderson, K., Hyson, M., Seminario, E., & Burton, A. (2019). The Measuring Early Learning Quality & Outcomes initiative: purpose, process and results. Early Years, 39(4), 360–375. https://doi.org/10.1080/09575146.2019.1669142 Satrio Roefandi, P. (2019). Keluarga Pendalungan, Keluarga Berbasis Budaya Madura Atau Jawa? 10 Th Psychofest Conference, (March), 316–324. https://doi.org/10.31227/osf.io/v8g5b Stokoe, E. (2014). The Conversation Analytic Role-play Method (CARM): a method for training communication skills as an alternative to simulated role-play. Res. Lang. Soc. Interact, 47(3), 255–265. Sutarto, A. (2006). Sekilas Tentang Masyarakat Pandalungan. Jelajah Budaya 2006, 1–7. Suyadi. (2010). Psikologi Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini. Yogyakarta: Pustaka Insan Madani. Tapscott, D. (2011). Grown Up Digital: How the Net Generation Is Changing Your World. Bucharest: Publica. Wijana, W. D. (2014). Konsep-Konsep Dasar Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini. In UT. https://doi.org/10.1101/112268 Yoshikawa, H., Wuermli, A. J., Raikes, A., Kim, S., & Kabay, S. B. (2018). Toward High-Quality Early Childhood Development Programs and Policies at National Scale: Directions for Research in Global Contexts. Social Policy Report,31(1), 1–36. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2379-3988.2018.tb00091.x

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Infant-toddler care in Singapore: Journey towards quality

Policy Futures in Education ◽

10.1177/1478210320966503 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 147821032096650

Author(s):

Sandra Wu ◽

Ambika Perisamy

Keyword(s):

Early Childhood ◽

Teacher Quality ◽

Policy And Practice ◽

Developmental Needs ◽

Early Childhood Care ◽

Childhood Care ◽

Wide Range ◽

Custodial Care ◽

The Government

In Singapore, early childhood care and education has evolved according to the nation’s needs since its independence in 1965. From a welfare scheme to custodial care, early childhood care and education is now recognised as a critical part of children’s learning and development. Over the years, the government has progressively implemented policies to raise the quality of early childhood care and education and while increased efforts have been effective, there is still a gap between policy and practice. This article reviews the policies and frameworks throughout the history of early childhood care and education, with a focus on infant toddler care and examines some of the alignment and gaps. It identifies two key areas for improvement – staff to child ratio and teacher quality for quality infant toddler care. In the current staff to child ratio, an ‘educarer’ oversees 5 children between 2 and 18 months. This indicates that the educarer needs to be well trained for this role to cater to a wide range of learning and developmental needs. However, the quality of teacher training has been disparate and was only harmonised in 2017. This suggests that the quality of educarers is still uneven in the sector. In terms of qualifications, educarers only need to fulfil the minimum level of teacher certification, which means that the youngest children in their most formative years are being taught and cared for by the least qualified educators ( Bull and Bautista, 2018 ). Cognisant of these issues, this article proposes recommendations to address issues of manpower allocation and teacher quality.

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Development and validation of early childhood care and education pre-service lecturer instrument

International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education (IJERE) ◽

10.11591/ijere.v9i1.20415 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 188

Author(s):

Shazlyn Milleana Shaharudin ◽

Noorazrin Abd Rajak ◽

Noor Wahida Md. Junus ◽

Nor Azah Samat

Keyword(s):

Principal Component Analysis ◽

Early Childhood ◽

Principal Component ◽

Early Childhood Care ◽

Childhood Care ◽

Literature Reviews ◽

Alpha Reliability ◽

Component Loading ◽

Development And Validation

This paper presents to develop and validate the Early Childhood Care and Pre-Service Lecturer Instrument constructed to determine their level of competencies toward the quality of early childhood carers-educators’ professionalism in Malaysia. Components which affect the early childhood quality were characterized through inclusive literature reviews alongside interviews conducted with experts and experienced lecturers. In this study, two experts were elected to review this instrument so as to enhance its validity while 70 more lecturers in Malaysia were involved. There are four scales in principal component analysis pertaining the quality of early childhood professionalism, namely: (1) disposition, (2) knowledge, (3) skills, and (4) practices. The component loading range or respective instrument item were between 0.56 and 0.79, while the range for respective scales the alpha reliability coefficient were between 0.90 and 0.94. Concisely, the findings from this study corroborated the weight and consistency of the ECCE Pre-Service Lecturer Instrument.

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