Early childhood care and development: The missing link, a challenge for Swaziland

[摘要] This study explored the current practices implemented by Early Childhood Care andDevelopment (ECCD) caregivers / preschool teachers in Swaziland. It furtherinvestigated how the lack of an appropriate policy on Early Childhood Care andDevelopment impacted on the delivery of services to the sector. The research wasconducted using a qualitative methodology, eliciting responses through semistructuredinterview schedules.In order to conduct a more in-depth analysis, eight interviews were held at variousearly childhood care and development sites. The criteria for selection depended onwhether the participating caregiver had direct, hands-on experience of the day-to-daycare and running of ECCD sites. They also had to be involved in a full-time preschoolteaching programme and were purposively selected from the geographicallocation of Manzini, in Swaziland. The sites could be distinguished into threecategories, namely: community (non-profit making), private and church or missionruncentres. The results showed that caregivers implemented diverse anduncoordinated practices and that there was no uniformity in terms of professionaltraining, classroom practice and curriculum application. It was evident that theparticipants did not link the theory of their training to their practice, leaving gaps inthe provision of services and educational programmes to the children.The study concluded that unless the government of Swaziland and the ECCD unit atthe national level of Education made a concerted effort to formulate a national ECCDpolicy, Education for All would remain a pipedream. The study recommended thatgovernment should formulate national ECCD policy guidelines to encourageuniformity in practice and provision of ECCD sites. Not only should governmentaccelerate the development of the guidelines but they should also support thecaregivers by continuous professional development activities.

[发布机构] University of the Witwatersrand