Educational authorities in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of China introduced an early childhood education voucher system in 2007 with two implicit goals: to turn profit kindergartens into non-profit ones and to curtail parental choice. This initiative has caused a great deal of controversy locally and internationally, so the…

The critical importance of the early childhood years and the rights perspective to human development has made policy and programming for early childhood development an imperative for every nation. In India, poverty, changing economic and social structures resulting in the breakdown of traditional coping mechanisms and family care systems, and the…

The history of the development of the infant school in Hungary is traced with special emphasis on the influence of European Models, especially the English infant school and the work of Theresa Brunszvik in Hungary. (MS)

Describes the history of early childhood education in Jamaica and current trends. Considers the sponsorship of early childhood education and care programs; child care philosophy and policy; the variety of child care and education programs available, including Basic Schools, Infant Schools, and day care centers; teacher qualifications;…

Describes preschool education as it is integrated into the day care system in Finland. Discusses founding of first Finnish kindergartens, growing need for more extensive day care, the current municipal day care system, the Day Care Act guaranteeing the subjective right to day care for all children under age 7, and the educational role of day care.…

Chronicles the development of early childhood education in Ghana. Considers the history of education in that country from 1529 and discusses the characteristics of current early childhood education and future development of these programs. (JPB)