Saturday, August 3, 2013

International Contacts

This week I talked to Martha (Corn Island, Nicaragua) about equity and quality in early childhood. As I stated before, children start school at the kindergarten age and that is only if their parents choose to send them. There is no law that makes children go to school. There are not any childcare centers on the island. Most children begin kindergarten on the same level however, if a child has an older sibling they may be a little more educated than other children. There are two private schools there. One is at the Catholic church and the other at the Baptist church. She is not sure about the tuition at the Catholic church, but at the Baptist church the cost is $250 per year. There is a small public school that the children can attend free. All of these schools require the children to wear some sort of a uniform. The children at the Baptist church wear navy pants or skirts with white shirts. The thing, about my conversation, that I found most interesting is the teachers who teach in the schools are not required to have a teaching degree. Some of them only have a high school diploma. This may not be the case in the whole country, but it is the case for Corn Island. Martha and her husband will be visiting a mutual friend of ours next week and I am excited to sit down and have a long talk!
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6 comments:

  1. UnknownAugust 3, 2013 at 1:57 PM

    Hi Amy,

    I am amazed that the teachers are not required to have a teaching degree. Do you know if they receive professional development or a list of what is to be taught for each age group? I look forward to hearing more. Very interesting post!

    Thanks! Christina

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  2. UnknownAugust 3, 2013 at 9:09 PM

    Hello Amy,
    I enjoyed reading your blog. I am shocked that teachers are not required to have a teaching degree. I can't believe there are no childcare centers on the island. Do you know if the parents can afford for their children to go to the Catholic or Baptist Schools or do they just go the small public schools?

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  3. AnonymousAugust 4, 2013 at 10:50 AM

    Hi Amy,

    Thank you for sharing more regarding your learning with Martha. Parents indeed are the greatest determinants where there is no law requiring children to attend ECD. You will note that it is the educated parents that will know the value of ECD, the uneducated ones may never know its importance hence resulting in inequalities.

    The issue of teachers not required to have a degree should not be surprising, In Uganda many who teach in ECD have a certificate in ECD. As the profession grows many will be drawn into the profession not as a last resort (having nothing else to do) but by choice and when you do it by choice, you are able to seek the skills required.

    Thank you sharing.
    Florence

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  4. AnonymousAugust 4, 2013 at 2:22 PM

    Thank you for sharing! I think that educational trends can differ and be similar across the world. Thank you for pointing out that religion does play a role in the education of some of our young children. It is interesting that across the world the requirements to become a teacher varies.

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  5. UnknownAugust 4, 2013 at 4:21 PM

    Hi Amy,

    Do you know what the majority of folks on the island do for a living? I believe this may be what is driving the fact that there are no child care facilities. Is there a need for child care facilities? Are both parents working outside the home?

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  6. UnknownAugust 4, 2013 at 6:58 PM

    Hi Amy, that interesting that the teachers don't have to have a degree to teach. I'm sure that is something that will come with time. Great information.

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