Academic literature on the topic 'Early Childhood Education Programme (Kenya)'

This ethnographic study examined the (un)intended 1 consequences of increased privatization of Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Nepal and Kenya. Qualitative data showed overreliance on high-stakes standardized tests increased competition for ‘good grades or examination scores’, thus (un)intentionally creating ideal conditions for proliferation of for-profit private schools that predominantly taught culturally decontextualized education at all levels of schooling. Private schools in both countries served high-income families and children, while low-income families and children did not have access to ECE or attended government and not-for-profit programmes. Rather than bridging the gap between low and high-income families, these educational spaces influenced existing social divisions and inequalities. Therefore, this study concluded that private schools in Nepal and Kenya function like businesses, which (un)intentionally promoted educational injustice 2 against children from low-income families. Consequently, authors recommend enactment of new educational policies and practices that promote culturally contextualized curricula in ECE programmes.

The indigenous communities in Africa, specifically Kenya, which is the focus of this article, had their own well-developed motivational systems that positively enhanced teaching and learning programmes in the community. These motivational systems were manifested in behaviours that were presented as sequential cultural tasks that demanded active engagement from children at every stage of development. The philosophical tenets of African indigenous education underscored education as preparation for life. This was a culturally based education that addressed the physical, emotional, mental and social aspects of a child’s successful development. It offered the child an opportunity to participate in practical, productive and responsible livelihood activities. This article suggests that a concert of research into these indigenous motivational care-giving practices and community participation in the activities of early childhood education may offer important insights into transitioning children from life in the home environment to that of the school and its accompanying academic tasks. When these motivational care-giving practices are incorporated in the process of transitioning children to formal schooling, then their chances of success in these new educational programmes could be enhanced.

Purpose: Parental support is essential in achieving pupils’ learning outcomes. The purpose of this article is to discuss how parental involvement in pupils’ learning programmes influences pupils’ learning outcomes. The study was conducted in public Early Childhood centres in Nairobi City County, Kenya, to investigate the influence of parental involvement in pupils’ learning programmes on children’s learning outcomes. The problem is that, despite that parents have a responsibility and an influence in the education of their children, not all parents are involved in the learning programmes at the early childhood centres. The objectives of the study were to assess the extent of parental involvement in pupils’ learning programmes and to determine the influence of parental involvement in children’s learning programmes on learning outcomes.Methodology: The study employed descriptive survey targeting the 21 public stand-alone early childhood education centres, 2243 children aged 3-5 years, 21 head teachers and all teachers at the learning centres. Quantitative and qualitative data was collected by using structured interview schedules for head teachers, closed questionnaires for teachers and document analysis guide to process pupils’ learning outcomes (performance). Records of Pupils of PP1 and PP2 levels from each centre were simple randomly sampled for review. By purposive sampling, 48 teachers were sampled, at least one teacher for each of the levels from the 21 institutions. The study employed, means, percentages and the coefficients in the analysis of the data.Findings: The study revealed that 38.1 percent of the learning centres had parents who gave less than 50 percent of the expected support and that centres that involved parents in the learning programmes had higher learning outcomes. The conclusion is that parental involvement in the education of their children leads to high learning outcomes.Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study recommended that The County Government should develop and implement a policy to support establishment and enforcement of a framework through which parents can work in partnership with the teachers at the learning centres. There is need for government instituted structures for sensitization of the parents on their role in the education of their children.

Despite major steps towards providing early childhood care and education (ECCE) services in Kenya and Uganda, access to responsive services is still out of reach for many young children, and where available, they are often out of touch with local realities. In this paper, I trouble the universalising and totalising tendencies of the dominant narrative of ECCE as a template of thought and action and highlight the role of indigenous knowledge as a critical but often missing link in ECCE policy and practice. I draw on the situated experiences of caregivers and local communities, which counter the dominant narrative and argue that culturally responsive ECCE requires contextually sensitive policy and programmes. Such policies should affirm and support the important role of local knowledge in the care and socialisation of young children. Policies should also recognise the informal resilient social protection system without obscuring the role of the state in addressing structural vulnerability.

SUMMARYUntil recently, the epidemiology and control of schistosomiasis in sub-Saharan Africa have focused primarily on infections in school-aged children and to a lesser extent on adults. Now there is growing evidence and reports of infection in infants and pre-school-aged children (⩽6 years old) in Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Uganda, with reported prevalence from 14% to 86%. In this review, we provide available information on the epidemiology, transmission and control of schistosomiasis in this age group, generally not considered or included in national schistosomiasis control programmes that are being implemented in several sub-Saharan African countries. Contrary to previous assumptions, we show that schistosomiasis infection starts from early childhood in many endemic communities and factors associated with exposure of infants and pre-school-aged children to infection are yet to be determined. The development of morbidity early in childhood may contribute to long-term clinical impact and severity of schistosomiasis before they receive treatment. Consistently, these issues are overlooked in most schistosomiasis control programmes. It is, therefore, necessary to review current policy of schistosomiasis control programmes in sub-Saharan Africa to consider the treatment of infant and pre-school-aged children and the health education to mothers.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) based instruction provide opportunities whereby the teacher is a facilitator and learners are active participants. ICT has tended to make learners effectively connect theory and practice. For ICT to be successfully utilised in instruction teachers need to possess the prerequisite ICT abilities. This study aimed at evaluating integration of ICT in instruction in Early Childhood Education (ECE) programmes in universities in Kenya and how faculty perceived ICT abilities related to ICT integration in instruction. A sample of 88 lecturers purposely drawn from public and private universities that were ECE pioneers and offered ECE programmes formed the study subjects. Questionnaire, observation checklist and document analysis were used to collect data. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were the methods of data analysis employed. Results from data analysed revealed that faculty were integrating basic ICT tools in instruction. It was also revealed that there was no significant difference in ICT integration in instruction by faculty in public and in private universities. The relationship between faculty perceived ICT abilities and ICT integration in instruction was highly significant at alpha value 0.05. It was recommended that there was need for university administration to organize in-service training for faculty to adequately learn how to integrate advanced ICT tools in instruction.

Eating habits develop during the first years of a child's life, children learn what, when, and how much to eat through direct experience with food and by observing the eating habits of others. The aim of this study is to get a clear picture of the Eating program Healthy, starting from the planning, implementation, supervision, and evaluation as a case study of nutrition education; to get information about the advantages, disadvantages and effects of implementing a healthy eating program for children. This research was conducted through a case study with qualitative data analysed using Miles and Huberman techniques. Sample of children in Ananda Islāmic School Kindergarten. The results showed the Healthy Eating program could be implemented well, the diet was quite varied and could be considered a healthy and nutritious food. The visible impact is the emotion of pleasure experienced by children, children become fond of eating vegetables, and make children disciplined and responsible. Inadequate results were found due to the limitations of an adequate kitchen for cooking healthy food, such as cooking activities still carried out by the cook himself at the Foundation's house which is located not far from the school place; use of melamine and plastic cutlery for food; the spoon and fork used already uses aluminium material but still does not match its size; does not involve nutritionists. Keywords: Early Childhood, Eating Healthy Program References: Bandura, A. (1977). Social learning theory. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall. Bandura, Albert. (2004). Health promotion by social cognitive means. Health Education and Behavior, 31(2), 143–164. https://doi.org/10.1177/1090198104263660 Battjes-Fries, M. C. E., Haveman-Nies, A., Renes, R. J., Meester, H. J., & Van’T Veer, P. (2015). Effect of the Dutch school-based education programme “Taste Lessons” on behavioural determinants of taste acceptance and healthy eating: A quasi-experimental study. Public Health Nutrition, 18(12), 2231–2241. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980014003012 Birch, L., Savage, J. S., & Ventura, A. (2007). Influences on the Development of Children’s Eating Behaviours: From Infancy to Adolescence. Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research : A Publication of Dietitians of Canada = Revue Canadienne de La Pratique et de La Recherche En Dietetique : Une Publication Des Dietetistes Du Canada, 68(1), s1– s56. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19430591%0Ahttp://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/a rticlerender.fcgi?artid=PMC2678872 Coulthard, H., Williamson, I., Palfreyman, Z., & Lyttle, S. (2018). Evaluation of a pilot sensory play intervention to increase fruit acceptance in preschool children. Appetite, 120, 609–615. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2017.10.011 Coulthard, Helen, & Sealy, A. (2017). Play with your food! Sensory play is associated with tasting of fruits and vegetables in preschool children. Appetite, 113, 84–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2017.02.003 Crain, W. C. (2005). Theories of development: Concepts and applications. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Prentice Hall. Dazeley, P., Houston-Price, C., & Hill, C. (2012). Should healthy eating programmes incorporate interaction with foods in different sensory modalities? A review of the evidence. British Journal of Nutrition, 108(5), 769–777. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114511007343 Derscheid, L. E., Umoren, J., Kim, S. Y., Henry, B. W., & Zittel, L. L. (2010). Early childhood teachers’ and staff members’ perceptions of nutrition and physical activity practices for preschoolers. Journal of Research in Childhood Education, 24(3), 248–265. https://doi.org/10.1080/02568543.2010.487405 Eliassen, E. K. (2011). The impact of teachers and families on young children’s eating behaviors. YC Young Children, 66(2), 84–89. Elliott, E., Isaacs, M., & Chugani, C. (2010). Promoting Self-Efficacy in Early Career Teachers: A Principal’s Guide for Differentiated Mentoring and Supervision. Florida Journal of Educational Administration & Policy, 4(1), 131–146. Emm, S., Harris, J., Halterman, J., Chvilicek, S., & Bishop, C. (2019). Increasing Fruit and Vegetable Intake with Reservation and Off-reservation Kindergarten Students in Nevada. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 9, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2019.09b.014 Flynn, M. A. T. (2015). Empowering people to be healthier: Public health nutrition through the Ottawa Charter. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 74(3), 303–312. https://doi.org/10.1017/S002966511400161X Franciscato, S. J., Janson, G., Machado, R., Lauris, J. R. P., de Andrade, S. M. J., & Fisberg, M. (2019). Impact of the nutrition education Program Nutriamigos® on levels of awareness on healthy eating habits in school-aged children. Journal of Human Growth and Development, 29(3), 390–402. https://doi.org/10.7322/jhgd.v29.9538 Froehlich Chow, A., & Humbert, M. L. (2014). Perceptions of early childhood educators: Factors influencing the promotion of physical activity opportunities in Canadian rural care centers. Child Indicators Research, 7(1), 57–73. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12187-013-9202-x Graham, H., Feenstra, G., Evans, A. M., & Zidenberg-Cherr, S. (2002). Healthy Eating Habits in Children. California Agriculture, 58(4), 200–205. Gucciardi, E., Nagel, R., Szwiega, S., Chow, B. Y. Y., Barker, C., Nezon, J., ... Butler, A. (2019). Evaluation of a Sensory-Based Food Education Program on Fruit and V egetable Consumption among Kindergarten Children. Journal of Child Nutrition & Management, 43(1). Holley, C. E., Farrow, C., & Haycraft, E. (2017). A Systematic Review of Methods for Increasing Vegetable Consumption in Early Childhood. Current Nutrition Reports, 6(2), 157–170. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13668-017-0202-1 Hoppu, U., Prinz, M., Ojansivu, P., Laaksonen, O., & Sandell, M. A. (2015). Impact of sensory- based food education in kindergarten on willingness to eat vegetables and berries. Food and Nutrition Research, 59, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.3402/fnr.v59.28795 Jarpe-Ratner, E., Folkens, S., Sharma, S., Daro, D., & Edens, N. K. (2016). An Experiential Cooking and Nutrition Education Program Increases Cooking Self-Efficacy and Vegetable Consumption in Children in Grades 3–8. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 48(10), 697-705.e1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2016.07.021 Jones, A. M., & Zidenberg-Cherr, S. (2015). Exploring Nutrition Education Resources and Barriers, and Nutrition Knowledge in Teachers in California. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 47(2), 162–169. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2014.06.011 Jung, T., Huang, J., Eagan, L., & Oldenburg, D. (2019). Influence of school-based nutrition education program on healthy eating literacy and healthy food choice among primary school children. International Journal of Health Promotion and Education, 57(2), 67–81. https://doi.org/10.1080/14635240.2018.1552177 Lwin, M. O., Malik, S., Ridwan, H., & Sum Au, C. S. (2017). Media exposure and parental mediation on fast-food consumption among children in metropolitan and suburban Indonesian. Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 26(5), 899–905. https://doi.org/10.6133/apjcn.122016.04 Mc Kenna, & L, M. (2010). Policy Options to Support Healthy Eating in Schools. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 101(2), S14–S18. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03405619 Menkes, R. PERATURAN MENTERI KESEHATAN REPUBLIK INDONESIA NOMOR 41 TAHUN 2014. , Menteri Kesehatan Republik Indonesia § (2014). Mitsopoulou, A. V., Magriplis, E., Dimakopoulos, I., Karageorgou, D., Bakogianni, I., Micha, R., ... Zampelas, A. (2019). Association of meal and snack patterns with micronutrient intakes among Greek children and adolescents: data from the Hellenic National Nutrition and Health Survey. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 32(4), 455–467. https://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.12639 Moffitt, A. (2019). Early Childhood Educators and the Development of Family Literacy Programs: A Qualitative Case Study. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, 96. Retrieved from http://proxy.mul.missouri.edu/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/2242479347 ?accountid=14576%0Ahttps://library.missouri.edu/findit?genre=dissertations+%26+theses &title=Early+Childhood+Educators+and+the+Development+of+Family+Literacy+Progra ms%3A+ Mustonen, S., & Tuorila, H. (2010). Sensory education decreases food neophobia score and encourages trying unfamiliar foods in 8-12-year-old children. Food Quality and Preference, 21(4), 353–360. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodqual.2009.09.001 Myszkowska-Ryciak, J., & Harton, A. (2019). Eating healthy, growing healthy: Outcome evaluation of the nutrition education program optimizing the nutritional value of preschool menus, Poland. Nutrients, 11(10), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11102438 Nekitsing, C., Hetherington, M. M., & Blundell-Birtill, P. (2018). Developing Healthy Food Preferences in Preschool Children Through Taste Exposure, Sensory Learning, and Nutrition Education. Current Obesity Reports, 7(1), 60–67. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13679- 018-0297-8 Noura, M. S. pd. (2018). Child nutrition programs in kindergarten schools implemented by the governmental sector and global nutrition consulting companies: A systematic review. Current Research in Nutrition and Food Science, 6(3), 656–663. https://doi.org/10.12944/CRNFSJ.6.3.07 Oh, S. M., Yu, Y. L., Choi, H. I., & Kim, K. W. (2012). Implementation and Evaluation of Nutrition Education Programs Focusing on Increasing Vegetables, Fruits and Dairy Foods Consumption for Preschool Children. Korean Journal of Community Nutrition, 17(5), 517. https://doi.org/10.5720/kjcn.2012.17.5.517 Osera, T., Tsutie, S., & Kobayashi, M. (2016). Using Soybean Products in School Lunch for Health Education may improve Children’s Attitude and Guardians’ Knowledge in Kindergarten. Journal of Child and Adolescent Behaviour, 04(05). https://doi.org/10.4172/2375-4494.1000310 Park, B. K., & Cho, M. S. (2016). Taste education reduces food neophobia and increases willingness to try novel foods in school children. Nutrition Research and Practice, 10(2), 221–228. https://doi.org/10.4162/nrp.2016.10.2.221 Pendidikan, K., & Kebudayaan, D. A. N. Menteri Pendidikan Dan Kebudayaan Republik Indonesia Nomor 137 Tahun 2013 Tentang Standar Nasional Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini. , (2015). Prima, E., Yuliantina, I., Nurfadillah, Handayani, I., Riana, & Ganesa, R. eni. (2017). Layanan Kesehatan,Gizi dan Perawatan. Jakarta: Direktorat Pembinaan Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini Direktorat Jenderal Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini dan Pendidikan Masyarakat Kementerian Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan. Resor, J., Hegde, A. V., & Stage, V. C. (2020). Pre-service early childhood educators’ perceived barriers and supports to nutrition education. Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education, 00(00), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/10901027.2020.1740841 Rizqie Aulianaca5804p200-169314. (2011). Gizi Seimbang Dan Makanan Sehat Untuk Anak Usia Dini. Journal of Nutrition and Food Research, 2(1), 1–12. Retrieved from http://staff.uny.ac.id/sites/default/files/pengabdian/rizqie-auliana-dra-mkes/gizi-seimbang- dan-makanan-sehat-untuk-anak-usia-dini.pdf Sandell, M., Mikkelsen, B. E., Lyytikäinen, A., Ojansivu, P., Hoppu, U., Hillgrén, A., & Lagström, H. (2016). Future for food education of children. Futures, 83, 15–23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.futures.2016.04.006 Schanzenbach, D. W., & Thorn, B. (2019). Food Support Programs and Their Impacts on Young Children. Health Affairs, (march). Retrieved from https://www.healthaffairs.org/briefs Schmitt, S. A., Bryant, L. M., Korucu, I., Kirkham, L., Katare, B., & Benjamin, T. (2019). The effects of a nutrition education curriculum on improving young children’s fruit and vegetable preferences and nutrition and health knowledge. Public Health Nutrition, 22(1), 28–34. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980018002586 Sekiyama, M., Roosita, K., & Ohtsuka, R. (2012). Snack foods consumption contributes to poor nutrition of rural children in West Java, Indonesia. Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 21(4), 558–567. https://doi.org/10.6133/apjcn.2012.21.4.11 Sepp, H., & Ho, K. (2016). Food as a tool for learning in everyday activities at preschool exploratory study from Sweden. Food & Nurtition Research, 1, 1–7. Shor, R., & Friedman, A. (2009). Integration of nutrition-related components by early childhood education professionals into their individual work with children at risk. Early Child Development and Care, 179(4), 477–486. https://doi.org/10.1080/03004430701269218 Taylor, C. M., & Emmett, P. M. (2019). Picky eating in children: Causes and consequences. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 78(2), 161–169. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0029665118002586 Taylor, C. M., Steer, C. D., Hays, N. P., & Emmett, P. M. (2019). Growth and body composition in children who are picky eaters: a longitudinal view. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 73(6), 869–878. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-018-0250-7 Unusan, N. (2007). Effects of a food and nutrition course on the self-reported knowledge and behavior of preschool teacher candidates. Early Childhood Education Journal, 34(5), 323– 327. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-006-0116-9 Usfar, A. A., Iswarawanti, D. N., Davelyna, D., & Dillon, D. (2010). Food and Personal Hygiene Perceptions and Practices among Caregivers Whose Children Have Diarrhea: A Qualitative Study of Urban Mothers in Tangerang, Indonesia. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 42(1), 33–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2009.03.003 Witt, K. E., & Dunn, C. (2012). Increasing Fruit and V egetable Consumption among Preschoolers: Evaluation of Color Me Healthy. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 44(2), 107–113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2011.01.002

School Feeding Programmes (SFP) were created for the purpose of eradicating hunger, supporting education, health and development. Although SFP is offered in Kenya, approximately 55% of children in do not go to school. According to CBS, roughly 50% of ECDE children do not attend school in Turkana Central Constituency. Therefore, the introduction of SFP in schools was envisioned to improve enrolment in schools. This study sought to establish the influence of SFP on children enrolment in early childhood education centres in Turkana Central Sub-County, Kenya. The specific objective was to determine the influence of the balanced diet on student enrolment in ECE centres in Turkana Central Sub County, Kenya. The study was based on program. The study used a mixed research method. The study adopted a cross-sectional research design. The target population was 250 schools, 78 teachers and headteachers and 5,000 parents in pre-schools in Turkana Central Sub County. The study used purposive sampling to select respondents. The sample size of the study was 150 schools, 60 teachers and headteachers and 357 parents. Primary data was gathered by the use of questionnaires and interview guides. Secondary data consisted of report forms of pre-schoolers. Quantitative information was analysed using descriptive statistics. Qualitative data was analysed using content analysis. Multiple regression was done to analyse the influence of SFPs on children enrolment in ECDE centres the county. The study found that a balanced diet positively relates to children enrolment in ECE centres in Turkana Central Sub County. The study therefore recommends the government to increase food supply to ensure adequacy. There is a need to continue the supply of balanced diet to children because it improves their growth and learning. Some of the children are from very poor families and during school holidays they suffer because of lack of food; the study, therefore, recommends orphans, poor and disabled to be fed even during holidays.

The central theme of this paper is resources for early childhood education. The paper highlights issues such as purpose and benefits of ECE. It also discusses human, material and financial resources and gives detailed instructional resources for effective teaching at this level of education. The benefits of E.C.E. are that there is a positive relationship between E.C.E life performances of the recipient of this level of education. Good. ECE inculcates the spirit of enquiry and creativity through exploration of nature and the local environment. It teaches them cooperation, team spirit and good habit. It also prepares them for primary education. The study also examined the importance of play, things to look for in preschool curriculum which are human resources, materials and finance. Quality support system should include educational training for programme personnel as well as ongoing technical assistance programme providers and individual care provider. Personnel who are well prepare through education, training and support are essential to achieving high quality.

Worldwide, accumulating evidence indicates an international movement within countries towards the development of integrated early childhood education and care services (OECD, 2001). Not only do demographic trends underscore such a demand, but also extensive research documents the cognitive, social and emotional developmental benefits of high quality integrated provision in early childhood while at the same time contributing to countries’ ability to compete in a global economy (Eming-Young, 2002). This thesis is concerned with an analysis of the feasibility of transferring the English Early Excellence Centres (EEC) Programme to early childhood settings in Greece. The EEC Programme was introduced by the English Government in 1997 to develop and promote models of high quality integrated education and care services for young children and families as an important part of Government’s broad based strategy for increasing opportunities, supporting families, reducing social exclusion, increasing the health of the nation and addressing child poverty. Case studies were constructed at three Early Excellence Centres (EECs) in England - and two key policy makers involved in the programme were also interviewed. The analysis of the interviews, questionnaires and documents collected during the research in England provided useful insights into the development of integrated services at practice and policy level, along with the successes and challenges encountered during the process of change. Further exploratory case study research took place in Greece to examine whether there is the potential and desire to move towards integration. The theory of a ‘tipping point’ (Gladwell, 2000) provided some profoundly suggestive arguments and insights to analyse the processes by which the English EEC Programme developed at policy level, and how it ‘crossed a threshold’, tipped and spread nationally and internationally. In addition, this theory offered a practical thinking tool for constructing a strategy towards integration in Greece. Analysis revealed that a change process towards integration is not easy to manage; is most productively seen as a social process that gradually unfolds over time; and which acknowledges the socio-economic, political and cultural context of each country. This research indicates that keeping our focus on the development of integration at ground level could be an effective starting point in Greece, -but the development and delivery of integrated services also needs local and central support. A strategy towards establishing integrated service provision in Greece needs to explore what already exists and start building on that; to support personal and professional development; to value the participation of parents; to promote research; and to influence policy. This thesis wishes to stimulate debate, to contribute to the limited Greek literature in the area of integrated early childhood services and to be of interest to policy makers and advocates who have the capacity to shape the direction of the early childhood system in Greece.

Early childhood development has a lifelong impact on the future of each human being. However, all South Africans do not have equal access to the same quality ECD opportunities and services. As a means to advance knowledge in this regard, this study explores parents' perceptions regarding early childhood development (ECD) and their involvement therein, particularly within the Langkloof farming communities. Furthermore, the objective is to formulate guidelines, which can be applied to promote parents‘ involvement in ECD at home and at the ECD partial care facility the children are enrolled at. For this reason an interpretive, descriptive research design was utilised as methodology, which enables the determination of practical applicability. The data for this study was gathered by means of five focus groups, consisting of not more than eight participants per group. Participants were sampled though a purposeful sampling strategy to ensure that the most informative participants were selected for the study. Gathered data were transcribed and analysed on the basis of the basic qualitative analysis process, incorporating the thematic analysis strategy. The findings of this study indicate that parents have a pertinent understanding of ECD and parental involvement in relation to existing literature on ECD. Participants‘ perceptions complement existing ECD-related literature, indicating that parental involvement in ECD includes a home-centred as well as a facility-centred approach. Participants made reference to their concerns and satisfactions with the ECD services that they are currently receiving. They furthermore made reference to the challenges that prohibit them from optimal parental involvement in the ECD of their children, both at home, as well as at the ECD partial care facilities their children are enrolled at. Participants made suggestions on how they could be supported to address their concerns and challenges in both home-centred and facility-centred approaches in order to enhance parental involvement in their community. In general findings suggest that parents have the skills and are aware of their rights and responsibilities with regard to ECD parental involvement. However, if their insights were to be additionally buttressed in particular ways, their children‘s development in the early years could be enhanced. Based on the findings therefore, this study recommends that governmental departments focus on determining the actual requirements of parents, based on their unique understanding of their circumstances and beliefs by means of practice-based research in less fortunate communities. Furthermore it is recommended that government departments, other role players involved in community-based ECD service delivery and farm owners should play a developmental, empowering and supportive role to assist parents to improve in respect of home-centred, as well as facility-centred parental involvement in ECD. In general the findings of this study therefore suggest that support services to parental involvement in ECD must be individualised based on research and theory and the requirements of parents and children in a specific context.
Thesis (MSW)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

The study investigated how primary schools in Chiredzi District in Zimbabwe, cater for ECD “A” and “B” children with special education needs. A mixed method design located in the pragmatism paradigm was used to carry out the study. Post-positivist is an interactive process which produced in-depth, detailed, rich data from personal perspectives and experiences that resulted in realistic understanding of phenomenon, interpreted through the social and cultural context of respondents’ lives. By adopting quantitative and qualitative approaches, the researcher was able to ensure a high level of reliability in the collected data, at the same time obtaining comprehensive information on how primary schools attaching preschool classes in Chiredzi district cater for ECD “A” and “B” children with special education needs. Purposive sampling and cluster sampling procedures were used to solicit information from ECD teachers, school heads, parents, the District Education Team, NGOs and critical government ministries through semi-structured questionnaires, face-t-face interviews, focus group discussions, observations and document analysis. The study established that, while the government carries out its mandate of providing social services to learners with special education needs, they are incapacitated due to lack of resources. The majority of schools are not providing adequate health facilities for learners with special education needs. Furthermore, most schools are not providing nutritional supplementation to vulnerable learners, situations which deprive the learners with the much needed opportunity to grow and develop to the anticipated potential. In addition, the study noted that, ECD “A” and “B” children with special education needs enrolled in classes attached to primary schools do not access Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) or Cash Transfers to alleviate the children that are in need. It came out that such a situation impacts on learners’ attendance and subsequently their learning outcomes. Regardless of the stipulations by international treaties on the nature of inclusive education, the study established that, the education system has not yet modified curriculum to accommodate learners with diversified forms of special education needs. The situation is made worse by the fact that, heads of schools, and teachers are not adequately trained to handle learners with special education needs in early childhood development programmes. In addition, schools face the challenge of scarcity of learning resources that support ECD learners with special education needs which seriously impact on the growth and development of young learners at this critical stage of their development. Regardless of the essence of continuous professional development programs, in schools whose purpose is to redress the professional gap in schools, the study found that the CPD are doing very little to transform the mind-set of teachers. The study concluded that learners with special education needs are not benefiting from the current inclusive education programme. The study recommends that following; Stakeholders work together to promote the health and nutritional needs including other social services of ECD learners in classes attached to primary schools. There be a national teacher in-service programme for those teachers deployed in schools, to equip them with the desired skills, and knowledge to handle learners with special education needs, especially at this critical stage of their development. Teachers’ Colleges redesign their curriculum to address inclusive education in schools. Teachers’ Colleges need to empower new graduates with skills and knowledge to handle children with special education needs in schools. Policy makers to advocate for redesigning the curriculum to include children with special education needs to ensure availability of resources in inclusive schools to alleviate the challenges faced by these children. Those policy makers should advocate for a way to ensure that all children with special education be enrolled in mainstream schools. Thus, the study proposed an alternative, holistic, and inclusive education model for schools attaching ECD “A” and “B”

Early childhood development, care and education interventions coordinate resources and services that are aimed at stimulating growth for young children. Resource constraints in low and middle-income countries contribute towards a lag in childhood development initiatives compared to high-income countries. This thesis focused on the context of South Africa where the government has a long-term objective of ensuring that all children have access to quality services. However, the attainment of this goal is currently not a financially viable option, and many community-based organisations resort to alternative provisions of early childhood interventions to ensure that poor children are served. This thesis investigated implementation and associated outcomes for the Family in Focus (FiF) programme. This home-based early education programme that is targeted at young children between the ages of 0-6 years, who live in poor and marginalised communities where access and resources for care and stimulation are limited, was the programme of interest. A small sample theory-driven evaluation approach was applied to this programme to assess its viability to alleviate service access issues and produce meaningful outcomes for marginalised children. Evaluation questions were posed and a descriptive research design and a pre-post non-equivalent group quasi-experimental design that compared the results of the FiF programme to a traditional pre-school were utilised. Qualitative descriptions, descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (t-tests) were used to analyse the results. The FiF programme theory, although not initially clearly defined, was found to be plausible with moderate change expected for the beneficiaries of the programme. The programme, however, had a very low implementation fidelity level of 37.5%, meaning that the programme was not being implemented according to design. This was further associated with poor outcomes for the small sample of children in the FiF programme group utilised. Across the five developmental outcomes of cognitive, language, motor, social and emotional development, outcomes were particularly poor for the first three development domains against South African norms and the comparison group used in the evaluation. Early childhood education home-visiting programmes have the ultimate goal of improving child development outcomes. However, evidence shows that these programmes seem to be more successful in improving parenting skills and caregiver coping, without reaching the former ultimate goal. The comprehensive approach to assessing child development in underserved areas in this evaluation provided a novel overview of the interaction of multiple factors in school readiness in impoverished communities. There is still a lingering question as to the benefits of home visiting programmes that are increasingly being implemented across the country as an alternative provision of early childhood care and education services.

With the assumptions that we are all for social justice and that early childhood teacher education programmes need to take a stand on social justice and provide prospective teachers with the practical tools to work with children in early childhood settings, the author of this thesis conducted an instrumental case study aimed to illuminate a process of critical thinking towards conceptualising professional knowledge in teaching for social justice in pre-service early childhood teacher education in Colombia. The purpose of the research was to bring insights into how teacher educators’ views and understandings of social justice influence their pedagogical and practical knowledge with regard to preparing prospective teachers to work with children in Colombian early childhood settings. The inquiry was developed in three stages (an internet-based survey, focus groups and written accounts) and thirty teacher educators working in a university based pre-service early childhood teacher education programme, participated in the study. The findings showed that teacher educators’ views and understandings of social justice in early childhood teacher education were associated with global discourses of inclusion, child rights, equity and equal opportunities for All. These understandings were identified in explicit actions regarding equality, diversity and respect in early childhood education. The findings also showed that other views of social justice appeared to be embedded in local and particular understandings of equity and equality that revealed a dual perception of social justice manifested through implicit and silenced actions with regard to preparing prospective early childhood educators. These particular views which exposed intentions and sensitivity towards teaching for social justice revealed generative forces and synergies in the early childhood teacher education programme. Implications of this study suggest the influence of teacher educators’ views and understanding of social justice in their political, pedagogical and practical professional knowledge with regard to preparing early childhood educators to live on co-existence as ‘vivencialistas’ committed to be citizens in social justice working with children in early childhood settings.

Thesis (DEd (Education))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017.
This study investigates the impact of a Gross Motor Development (GMD) programme on the lives of learners in marginalized multi-grade environments in rural areas of the Western Cape. Numerous studies globally suggest that gross motor development programmes bring stability, positive motivational changes and structure in learners’ lives constrained by challenging socio-economic environments (Portela, 2007, & Lopes et al., 2013). A transformative research paradigm was employed in order to address the research questions posed by this study. A purposive sampling technique was used to collect data from three schools, one in each of three Western Cape rural educational districts that border the Cape Metro; West Coast/Hopefield, Cape Winelands/Wellington and Overberg/Grabouw. In all three schools the Centre for Multi-grade Education had an academic research/training and support partnership. Within a trans-current mixed method design, qualitative data are used to substantiate and augment phenomena exposed by the quantitative data. The data in the qualitative phase of this study are collected using observations, reflective journals and journal notes. The research investigated the influence of an 18-month gross motor development programme on learners’ lives in three multi-grade schools in the Western Cape of South Africa. A sample of 50 (N=30 males and N=20 females), grade 4-6 multi-grade learners participated in the study. The gross motor skills were assessed using Project 4 – IMAD+ Test Battery, previously developed by the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Centre for Multi-grade Education. The test battery consisted of a series of physical exercises designed to assess gross motor proficiency. The scholastic achievement of learners was understood from the Annual National Assessment scores (ANA) of 2013.The data revealed that a total gross motor ability percentage score change occurred in the sample 50 (N=30 males and N=20 females) from 32.12 % to 56.82 %, indicating a significant overall gross motor improvement of 24.7 % in an 18 month period. Improved self-esteem, positive attitudinal and motivational changes and increases in class attendance occurred among the learners. This improvement aligns itself with research that indicates that the development and improvement of motor skills through physical activity are related to positive development of self-esteem among learners (Corbin, 2002:128-145). This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on education at rural, marginalized schools, and suggests that providing learners with the opportunity to participate in a structured programme is likely to improve motivation which will contribute toward positive scholastic achievement. It is recommended that policymakers should encourage and implement structured gross motor skills development programmes at school. Further research on the influence of GMD provincially and nationally should be encouraged.

Constructivism has been widely adopted as a referent for research, curriculum development and recommended pedagogy in education. This chapter considers key issues relating to the adoption of constructivist thinking in education which have arisen within the field of science education. Constructivism has been mooted as a dominant paradigm in science education, where it has informed a major research programme over some decades. However, the application of constructivist ideas in science education has also been subject to a range of critiques. This chapter gives an outline of the developing influence of constructivism in science education, and the common understandings of the term in relation to science teaching and learning; it reports on the main areas where the influence of constructivist thinking has been heavily criticised, and discusses how these criticisms are countered within the research programme; it considers some major directions for research within the research programme; and it evaluates the level of influence of constructivism in contemporary science education practice.

With this article the authors would like to deepen the resilience and psychomotricity as action strategies in preschool education. They analyse too the importance of resilience and psychomotricity and their impact in the learning of disadvantaged children at a preschool age that are exposed to adverse social and personal factors and to assess the efficiency of an intervention program based in psychomotricity and resilience together. The authors developed a project in a region of Brazil (Botucatu), where a Psychological Development Activation Model was used with psychomotricity exercises and also the Programme Strong Start Pre K, in the area of resilience. The assessment instruments used were the WeBeST test for resilience and the Operational Portage Inventory test for Psychomotricity. The results indicate that there was an evolution in resilience among children in the group that participate in this program. They improved the resilience capacity, dealing with problems and controlling the emotions.

This chapter explores the potential of home-based early childhood education in democratizing the sector especially for poor and disadvantaged children. Considering the huge number of children not accessing early learning centers, alternative ECD is optional. Family in Focus is one of the alternative ECDs formed in 1987 to cater for the needs of the poor and vulnerable children in the Western Cape Province. The focus of this programme is on the family as the primary source of care of young children. Through the FIF programme, home visitors are trained and supported to reach out to these children and their caregivers in order to develop the skills and capacity of caregivers to stimulate and develop their children effectively in their own homes. The chapter argues that the introduction of Family in Focus (FIF) as an alternative ECD programme could serve as a strategy to make ECD accessible to poor and disadvantaged communities.

Chapter 5 presents a case study that reports on the assessment of self-directed learning (SDL) in three schools categorized with the local curriculum framework, and three nearby schools with the International Baccalaureate's Primary Years Programme. Results of the investigation indicate that there is a link between curriculum and students' knowledge of, as well as their response to, instruction about SDL. The chapter ends with a discussion of the implications of curriculum emphasis on inquiry for students' SDL, and the opportunities that exist for using the assessment of SDL with local curriculum documents that aim to promote effective learning in primary schools.

This paper will focus on the possibilities of puppetry and opera in early childhood education studies (ECE), and among children in day care in a class of twenty 4−5-year-olds. The research centres around 200 university students in the middle of a project on opera and puppetry in their ECE programme. Opera is about strong emotions (see Trevarthen 2012, 263), and puppetry is a vehicle to make feelings visible (Lintunen, 2009, Majaron 2012, 11, Scheel, 2012). Puppetry and opera can be used in collaboration, and they are combined in this ECE programme as a part of the university studies in drama and literary arts. A method called Pritney has been created to realize the project. The theoretical background consists of puppetry and literary arts. The paper will present some findings from cases in which puppetry and opera have been used experimentally with ECE students, and subsequently with kindergarten children. There is a need for collaborative encounters during the processes of puppetry and opera. Based on the observations and remarks of university students doing their puppetry and opera project, this paper considers the value of conveying puppetry and opera to a child audience as a stimulation for curiosity and emotions. All this reflection is followed by the examples of practice in ECE studies. Performing opera with puppets is beneficial. In summary, the artistic experiments created by puppetry and opera are valuable in transferring cultural heritage and creating aesthetic and pedagogical moments. There is also a short consideration of a project called “Rinnalla−Hand in Hand” (2018−2020) funded by Finnish ministry of education, in which the Pritney method is further developed (see also Suvilehto 2019).

The Panel discussion titled “The Presidential Employment Stimulus: Research Opportunities”, was hosted on 10 December 2020 by the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) at the Science Forum South Africa (SFSA) 2020. The Presidential Employment Stimulus was launched in parliament on 15 October as part of government’s Economic Recovery Strategy. It directly funds 800,000 employment opportunities that are being implemented within the current financial year, but it is anticipated that it will also become a medium-term programme. The stimulus includes public employment programmes, job retention programmes and direct support to livelihoods. The single largest programme is run by the Department of Basic Education, which, in the last fortnight, recruited 300,000 young people as school assistants, to assist schools to deal with the setbacks faced as a result of the pandemic. The stimulus supports employment in the environmental sector and over 75,000 subsistence producers are receiving production grants through an input voucher scheme. There is a once-off grant to assist over 100,000 registered and unregistered Early Childhood Development Practitioners back on their feet, as well as a significant stimulus to the creative sector. The session set out to provide an introduction to the Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme (PESP), a key programme within government’s economic recovery plan led by Dr Kate Philip. The key objective was to get input from the research community on how the work that they are already doing and future work could contribute to the M&E efforts and be augmented in such a way that the PESP could become a medium-term programme. The DSI plans to hold further engagements in 2021 to mobilise the wider research community to provide evidence-based research in order to shape the research agenda that would support the M&E work and identify short-term issues that need to be factored into the department’s work plans, under the guidance of Dr Philip.