My political issue is a question: What is the level of
qualification for teachers in early childhood care and education that would
provide a quality service? This debate has been ongoing for the past 15 years.
I am
interested in this political issue because there is evidence that suggests
children’s education is being negatively affected by the policy change to 50%-
80% qualified teaching staff. Early Childhood Council CEO Peter Reynolds (2014),
argued that “Low quality care should not be acceptable anywhere in the early
childhood sector, and certainly not for our most at-risk of children- the ones
for whom a quality early childhood education could mean the difference between
job and jail.” Therefore I am researching the level of qualification required
to provide quality early childhood care and education.
I agree that children have been effected by the high percentage of unqualified educators in their setting. It can be argued that children might not meet their full potential at their setting due to lack of understanding or education unqualified teachers have.
ReplyDeleteHello Emma,
ReplyDeleteI am in your blog at last. This is a very topical issue which impacts on all participants in the early childhood. Teachers, children and families. I think the focus on participation has been at the expense of quality. I notice that there are quite a few articles in the New Zealand Hearld lately calling for an inquiry - you might like to access these as part of your discussion.
Hi Emma,
ReplyDeleteI am also writing about the differences between qualified and unqualified early childhood teachers and the effects this may have on children's learning. I would also like to know what level of qualification is required to provide quallity care.
Hi Emma,
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that Peter Reynolds believes that low quality settings should not happening in ECE. But I wonder why all aspects of quality for ECE settings and teachers is not more closely and regularly monitored. I understand that ERO have a huge responsibility to ensure that correct polices and practices are being followed. But I feel giving settings time to get up to 'code' just for ERO visits to be wrong.
There is alot of work involved in getting ready for the ERO visit. Surely it would make more sense to surprise visit and gather real intel about how each centre truely operates.