GLOBAL: Quality of Public Preschools

What should be done about this issue?

Europe:
Problem: High child-teacher ratios
Solution: For the most part, preschools in Europe have exceptional facilities and teachers. Europe has set the bar for preschool education with high attendance and high learning standards. The only real problem is the child to teacher ratio. Classes in Europe tend to be larger than in the United States. Some classes have 25 children to one adult or a high of 35 children to one adult. This seems extremely high and might interfere with learning in the classroom. Each child gets less one on one time with the teacher.
To fix this problem Europe's government should train more teachers and put them into the classrooms. The government should urge people to become preschool teachers. The government could also lure people into the teaching profession by increasing wages or adding more benefits.

China:
Problem: Lack of quality teachers and facilities
Solution: Much of China’s population is working in agriculture. Because of this, many people live in rural communities far from the high tech cities of China. The children in these rural areas lack quality teachers and facilities because the advance technology doesn’t reach them. Also, many teachers have no incentives to teach in rural areas of China.
China needs to make a commitment to changing their education programs. China needs to not only focus on education within the cities but within the rural areas. Thus, China needs to start putting their additional funds into education. This would help to create more education facilities and programs. The children could have access to better learning tools and books. Another important thing is to raise the quality of teachers. This could be done by creating more incentives by increasing pay for those teachers that teach in rural areas. Another option would be to circulate teachers throughout all areas. Each teacher can teach in the city for a certain number of years then teach in the rural areas for a certain number of years. These teachers would get additive benefits if they participate in these programs.
Quality teachers are important to children that want to learn. Therefore, China should ensure that all teachers have completed the proper classes. There should also be additional introduction classes for preschool teachers because connecting with children of such young ages can sometimes be difficult.

Japan:Problem: No real public preschools
Solution: In Japan, preschool is not an official part of the education system. Education in Japan is compulsory from grade one to grade nine. However, many complete grades ten through twelve and go onto universities. Since there are no official public preschools, all preschools in Japan are privately run. Some parents enroll their children in preschool while others teach them at home.
Japan’s government should create their own public preschools. If they were to create these preschools they would be able to see the importance of learning at a young age. Learning at a young age enables children to progress faster in the grades to follow. Japan should use some of their education funds to start new preschool programs. This is likely to be widely encouraged by the public. This would not be a waste of government dollars. By starting these programs, the Japanese government will be investing in their youth.

Africa:
Problem: Low attendance by preschoolers
Solution: Africa has one of the lowest attendance percentages throughout the world. Not many children attend primary school let alone preschool. Poverty is a huge problem in sub-Saharan Africa and education takes lower priority over this issue. More infants die in Africa than in any other country.
To battle the lack of education opportunities and lack of attendance, Africa should deal with their problems of poverty and infant mortality. Once these problems have been significantly dealt with, education in Africa can start growing. It is important that education is built on a stable community. Thus, it is best for the communities to be involved with public education systems. If Africa becomes a healthy thriving nation, children would be able to focus on their education. Therefore, children could start attending school regularly. Africa’s government must also take the initiative to build more facilities and start more programs. Parents will start to see the opportunities education holds and will be more willing to send their kids to school.

Middle East:
Problem: Countries in a state of turmoil
Solution: Most countries in the Middle East are in a state of turmoil due to war. War has caused ruin and despair to all individuals in these countries. Many schools have been destroyed and there are few supplies or textbooks. There is a lack of funds and teachers which has caused some schools to shut down.
There is not much these countries can do when there is so much political strife. Issues in regard to education will be ignored until these countries find a time of peace. The countries can then rebuild and return to a state of stability. Then the government can focus on getting education back up on its feet. The government can start putting funds back into education that will enable children to have teachers and supplies.
Another solution would be to get help from foundations like World Bank. These foundations could help focus change in the education programs and also give additional funds. Once these countries find peace, they can focus on the importance of a preschool education.

What should be done on the governmental level to help alleviate the “problems” this issue is creating?
-Start forming public preschool programs in all communities
-Create more funding for preschools
-Recruit more teachers
-Set better guidelines for school preparation goals
-Raise teacher’s salary
-Start compensation initiatives in all preschool programs
-Build and renovate facilities
-Raise awareness for the need for early childhood education
-Get communities involved

What should be done on a societal level to help alleviate the “problems” this issue is creating?
-Demand government to fund and create preschools
-Ask International Monetary Fund or World Bank for help
-Donate money to preschools
-Donate learning tools/supplies to preschools
-Volunteer at community preschools
-Form associations advocating early childhood education

Resources/Links:
http://www.universalpreschool.com/get-info/preschool-around-the-world.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preschool_and_daycare_in_Japan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Africa
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/2002/07/17/ncguest1.htm
http://www.pbs.org/kcts/preciouschildren/earlyed/read_east.html
www.futureofchildren.org/usr_doc/vol5no3ART5.pdf
http://www.internationaled.org/publications/ChinaDelegationReport120105b.pdf
http://www2.unesco.org/wef/countryreports/afghanistan/rapport_3.html