Hello Colleagues,
I still have
not heard back from any of the professionals I contacted. Fortunately, there
was an alternative assignment to complete this week. I visited UNESCO’s website:
Early Childhood Care and Education. After thoroughly exploring this site, I will
like to share 3 insights I gained about issues related to international early
childhood education that relate to my professional goals.
One of my
goals is to continue my education to further my knowledge about the field of
education. On UNESCO’s webpage, I found a story/article called “Children Still
Battling to go to School.” In the United States, we are very fortunate to
attend school and further our education. This article was about children is
many countries who are in a struggle to attend school.
Governments
identified conflict as a major barrier towards getting all children into school
when they signed the Dakar Framework for Action in 2000. They recognized that
children in conflict-affected countries are robbed of an education not only
because schools may be closed and teachers absent, but also because they are
exposed to widespread abuses. This fact is confirmed by the visual database of
inequalities in education, WIDE, developed by the EFA Global Monitoring Report,
showing how access to education varies hugely depending on whether a child
lives in a conflict affected region of a country or not.
Another one
of my goals is to remain updated with any changes in the early childhood field.
I found an article that I feel relates to this goal. This article was called “Lifelong
Learning Systems.”
UNESCO develops and supports programmes that strengthen all
levels of education.Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) which
provides for the holistic development of children from birth to eight years
old, is a priority area for the Organization. UNESCO works with governments and
partners to expand the availability and quality of ECCE around the world.
Primary
and Secondary Education are essential building blocks for ensuring lifelong
learning opportunities for all. Following the rise in access to primary
education in recent years, UNESCO is helping countries cope with the growing
demand for quality Secondary Education.
Higher education is key to the development of
knowledge-based societies. As the only UN agency with a mandate in higher
education, UNESCO helps develop evidence-based policies in response to new
trends and works to make higher education more inclusive and innovative. The Organization
connects, informs and guides the global higher education community in areas
from mobility to recognition of qualifications, quality enhancement, and inter-university cooperation.
Another
key component of lifelong learning is Technical and Vocational Education and Training
(TVET) for youth and adults,which helps build, maintain and renew the
skills required for the world of work and social integration. Along with the UNESCO-UNEVOC
International Centre, UNESCO helps countries to improve their TVET systems and
informs the global debate on TVET.
My other
goal is to be an advocate for young children and their families. There are
people out there who advocate for children and their families. A girl named
Malala Yousafzai risked her very own life as she campaigned for girls’
education. This part of an article relates to my goal:
As testified
by the experience of Malala Yousafzai, a committed campaigner for girls’
education, shot by the Taliban while travelling to school in Pakistan,
classrooms, teachers and pupils will continue to be seen as legitimate targets
unless tougher action is taken. To put an end to attacks on education, stronger
commitment is needed to fight against human rights violations, to overhaul
global aid priorities and strengthen rights for displaced people.
To mark her 16th birthday on July 12, Malala will give her first high
level public statement at the United Nations to call for every child’s right to
education. As part of this day, in support of the UN Secretary-General’s Global
Education First Initiative, international youth leaders will convene to
exchange ideas and discuss what can be done to accelerate the goal of getting
all children in school and learning by 2015.
Reference
http://en.unesco.org (2013)
