ERIC Number: EJ1102833
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-2222-1735
EISSN: N/A
Pre-School Education: Unpacking Dilemmas and Challenges Experienced by Caregivers--A Case of Private Sectors in Mutare Urban-Zimbabwe
Chiparange, Getrude Vongai; Saruchera, Kenneth
Journal of Education and Practice, v7 n13 p129-141 2016
Despite the remarkable awareness in Zimbabwe of the importance of Early Childhood Development and Education (ECD), there is insufficient motivation for communities, local authorities and central government to make strategic plans for universal position. The study was to unpack dilemmas and challenges related to the implementation of the ECD program and describe how they override them in support of the government policy of developing the whole child. The qualitative case study design was adopted and data was generated through interviews with semi structured questions, through open-ended questionnaire, direct observation, through institutional artefacts and document analysis, The study used a purposeful sample of 20 participants from private preschool sector who shared similar characteristics and the same geographical area (Mutare urban) when implementing the curriculum. Little is known about dilemmas and challenges affecting the pre-school private sectors to effectively implement the curriculum in-line with the national policy. The data were analysed descriptively using theme identification methods to solicit emerging issues from the data. The grounded theory, constructivism and Interpretivism theories guided the research .the specific challenges included: lack of trained ECD specialists with expertise in special education, shortage of equipment and material resources. The study recommended that there be a coordinated plan for the training of para-professionals and there should be cooperation of government and community in providing facilities.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Preschool Education, Early Childhood Education, Caregivers, Private Sector, Program Implementation, Public Policy, Educational Policy, Child Development, Qualitative Research, Case Studies, Semi Structured Interviews, Questionnaires, Observation, Content Analysis, Private Schools, Geographic Regions, Curriculum Implementation, Preschool Curriculum, Statistical Analysis, Grounded Theory, Constructivism (Learning), Training, Specialists, Expertise, Special Education, Educational Resources, Paraprofessional School Personnel, Barriers, Social Theories, Learning Theories, Socialization
IISTE. No 1 Central, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong SAR. Tel: +852-39485948; e-mail: JEP@iiste.org; Web site: http://iiste.org/Journals/index.php/JEP
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Preschool Education; Early Childhood Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Zimbabwe
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A