Achieving quality in early childhood education in the Eastern Caribbean depends on teacher preparation

ABSTRACT

Teachers’ knowledge and use of developmentally appropriate strategies are vital for creating the enabling early learning environments that foster the development of the ideal Caribbean Community (CARICOM) citizen who is ready to face the challenges of living in the twenty-first century. Early childhood education in the Eastern Caribbean refers to pre-primary education [EDMU – OECS. (2012). The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Education Sector Strategy 2012–2021, Retrieved July 5, 2015, from http://www.oecs.org/edmu-resources/oecs-education-strategy; EDMU – OECS. (2014). OECS education statistical digest 2012/2013]. Thus five to seven year old children, during the first three years at the primary education level, are being denied their rights to developmentally appropriate learning since their teachers are seldom trained in early childhood philosophy. Teacher competence is needed to ‘get things to happen on the ground level’ [Fullan, M. (1996). Professional culture and educational change. School Psychology Review, 25(4), 496–500, p. 496]. Thus, Quality Early Childhood Education in the Eastern Caribbean can be achieved if teachers of young children have knowledge of early childhood pedagogy.

KEYWORDS:

• Eastern Caribbean
• quality early childhood education
• teacher preparation

View correction statement:

Corrigendum

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes on contributor

Sheron C. Burns, an advocate for children, is on a mission to protect young children’s rights to safe childhood, which include access to developmentally appropriate learning experiences. Currently on secondment to the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, as Lecturer – Early Childhood Education, she previously taught five- to seven-year-olds in public primary schools in Montserrat for two decades. In 2006, Burns was appointed Education Officer – Early Childhood Education, responsible for pre-primary education in Montserrat.