Current Global Status of Early Childhood Education





The current global situation of early childhood education varies from country to country, but overall the status could be better. Some countries are largely in support of early education, while other countries do not have any early education available to its children.

Over 100 million children do not attend any form of school, (1) and are left to jump right into the real world, without much guidance. A boy named Arti from India said, “I have cried several times to go to school. I have even fought with my brother because he goes to school while I don’t.”(2) Some children are longing for education and knowledge, which is not being provided for them. For the needs of these children to be met, UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) has estimated that about 15 million more teachers would be needed to accommodate these children.(3)

There are many organizations that are trying to fight for the educational rights of children across the world. Associations like ACEI (Association for Child
Education International) have set guidelines by which they believe children’s learning needs should be met. These guidelines include things like an enriching curriculum, which builds confidence and identity, and a safe environment.(4) All of these things are very important to a child’s growth and development.

The main cause for the countries that have poor or non-existent early childhood education is the government, or lack of government intervention. Different countries have different priorities. Childhood education is one of America’s top priorities, while many other countries, like India do not place as much, if any importance on childhood education.

Family also plays a large role in whether or not young children attend school. Families that can’t afford to send their children to school are limiting the potential of their children. Yet these families are not at fault. Many need to send these children to work, instead of school, just so they can earn a living.

In order for children worldwide to go to school, governments have to intervene, and send children to school, as opposed to work. When children cannot be schooled, the fault lies with the government. This fault is mostly in poorer, third world countries that cannot afford to send their children to school. The children are the ones that are most affected, but it then becomes a vicious cycle, which carries into their adult lives, and then their children’s lives. Without proper education, many countries are led to poverty, when they could instead have had prosperity.

Throughout Europe, nearly all 3-5 year olds attend preschool, which is funded by the government. Their preschools are similar to American public schools, but many of them have a high-quality curriculum and highly-trained teachers. Along with almost full attendance in England, Luxembourg, etc., places like Germany, Italy, and Denmark, also have an outstanding amount of children enrolled in preschool: over 90%.(5) If the rest of the world could follow in these steps, young children would be much more prepared for school.



NER = number of children of preschool age in preschool / number of children of preschool age

GER = number of children in preschool / number of children of preschool age

1. http://www.nea.org/international/gce.html
2. http://www.nea.org/international/gce-kidquotes.html
3. http://www.care.org/campaigns/childrenpoverty/gce/indexhjf.asp
4. http://www.acei.org/wguides.htm
5. http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/2002/07/17/ncguest1.htm