Workshop on Early Child Care and Education 3 November 2008

Workshop on Early Child Care and Education

On Wednesday 3 November, 2008 an open workshop on "The Future of Early Child Care and Education (ECCE) in Mauritius" was organized by the Charles Telfair Institute. This event was attended by over forty stakeholders and advocates of ECCE in Mauritius, all specialists in Education, pre-school managers and teachers, practicing child-care givers, representatives of NGOs, lecturers and students in Children's Services. The main objective was to provide an opportunity for participants to review and reflect on the current status and practice of Early Child Care and Education (0 to 8 years) ECCE in Mauritius and abroad with special focus on access, empowerment and best practice.

Mrs. Jenni Kenward, Early Child Care Advocate, Researcher and Programme Manager in Children's Services Studies, at Challenger TAFE in Western Australia, presented the Child-Centered Approach used in delivering ECCE throughout Australia and recommended the following:

  • That we should develop a programme which reflects a focus on the children's individual and group interests, strengths and needs

  • That we acknowledge that children develop at different rates and therefore we should reflect this in the programme provided

  • That we focus on the process of development and learning of skills rather than on the achievement of set outcomes

  • That we shift away from adult-initiated learning

A new and interesting concept expressed by Jenni Kenward is the idea that parents and staff as partners working together to meet the individual child's needs. This would result in separation becoming easier and less stressful and children feeling secure and calm in the learning environment. They, therefore, develop great skills at expressing their feelings and are more confident and comfortable approaching adults.

At the end of the workshop, many participants expressed positive reactions towards these new ideas and appreciated the opportunity to exchange views on different approaches to education. In particular, Jenni's input as it translate a new and fresh way of looking at child care, was greatly welcome.

 

View our archives