Article Link: http://stage.exchangepress.com/article/global-trends-in-early-childhood-education-2009/5018734/
As early childhood professionals from 78 countries prepare to travel to Belfast for the 2009 World Forum on Early Care and Education, we surveyed a sampling of those who will be attending on the current trends in early childhood education in their country. Delegates from over 40 countries responded, and the following report is a summary. In reviewing the reports from every continent, we were struck by a number of items:• A surprisingly large number of countries are engaging in implementing or finalizing ‘frameworks’ for early child development. This trend to organize early services into a coherent national policy is encouraging.
• We noted that there does not seem to be a direct correlation between countries where public recognition of the value of early childhood services is high and the funding of those services is high. It appears that advocates
globally have their work cut out for them to translate public sentiment into government action.
• We tend to think that policy changes happen at a glacial pace. However, in looking back over the past five years, we have seen dramatic changes in policies and practices in the short term. Up until recently, Australia and Canada were recognized for the high quality of ...