United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) advocates for programs that support early childhood care and education. "UNESCO works in partnership with Member States, partners and other stakeholders to encourage timely and effective implementation...so that all young children develop their potential tot he fullest" (www.unesco.org/). They work with government officials to push for policies that support development.
UNESCO believes in an integrated approach, focused on the well-being and holistic development of all children. They encourage two planning strategies of phasing and partnership. Phasing is education that responds to the needs of the child. Partnership links health, social, families, schools and communities together. UNESCO calls for an early childhood care and education system that has access and equity, quality, investment and financing and coordination and integration (www.unesco.org/).
Access and equity should be for all children, especially those which live in the most disadvantaged areas. High-quality would include "pedagogy materials, personnel training, service setting and parental education and involvement" (www.unesco.org/). Countries would need to look at early childhood the same way they do basic education, recognize its value, and use financing to ensure equitable access for all children. Finally, a new approach of effectively coordinating provision and implementation across the sectors, both nationally and locally.
UNESCO's mission "is to support early childhood policy development with the aim to build a solid foundation for a child's lifelong learning" (www.unesco.org/). Their mission and strategies to further that mission relates to my professional goals. As advocates, UNESCO and I have the "mission to safeguard and promote the development of young children and to ensure their smooth transition from home to early childhood services and later to primary education" (www.unesco.org/).
Reference
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved from http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood/
Lolita,
ReplyDeleteGood post. It seems as though we found out about the same things about UNESCO. I am glad that UNESCO supports the EC field and is concerned about lifelong learning. EC needs more attention and support than it receives. There needs to be more organizations such as UNESCO in this world.
Lolita,
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting. UNESCO is a great foundation and is doing amazing work. Were you as excited to find yet another organization that supports ECCE? I think UNESCO can definitely take the world places, if only more of its plans were put into action!