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UNIVERSITY OF BOTSWANA FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES DEPARTMENT OF SOCAL WORK CHALLENGES IN THE PROVISION OF EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION SERVICES IN RURAL AREAS OF BOTSWANA A RESEARCH ESSAY SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF A MASTERS DEGREE IN SOCIAL WORK BY: CHRISTINA MWAIPOPO 200403412 SUPERVISORS: PROFESSOR T. MAUNDENI PROFESSOR G. JACQUES DECLARATION I hereby declare that the work presented in this research essay is my own unaided work and that the cited sources have been acknowledged by means of references. ……………………………… Christina Mwaipopo June 2017 ii DEDICATION This research report is dedicated to the Mwaipopo family for their love and continuous support. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank the almighty God for His grace upon my life and making the impossible possible in my life. I wish to express my sincere gratitude to my supervisors, Professor Tapologo Maundeni and Professor Gloria Jacques, for their guidance and support throughout the whole research essay project. I take this opportunity to express my gratitude to my friends, Rets’elisitsoe Monne and Matshidiso Letshwenyo, who have been encouraging me all the way. iv Table of Contents DECLARATION ................................................................................................................... ii DEDICATION ..................................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................................. iv LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ............................................................................................... ix LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................... x ABSTRACT ......................................................................................................................... xi CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION .................................................................................... 1 1.0 Background to the study ................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Historical development of ECCE ............................................................................. 2 1.2 Statement of the problem.......................................................................................... 6 1.3 Aim of the study ....................................................................................................... 7 1.3.1 Specific objectives ............................................................................................. 7 1.3.2 Research questions ............................................................................................. 7 1.4 Significance of the study .......................................................................................... 8 1.4.1 Research implications ........................................................................................ 8 1.4.2 Policy implications ............................................................................................. 8 1.4.3 Practice implications .......................................................................................... 9 1.5 Definition of Terms .................................................................................................. 9 1.6 Limitations of the study .......................................................................................... 10 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW ....................................................................... 11 2.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 11 2.1 Standards of ECCE programmes.................................................................................. 11 2.1.1 Curriculum .......................................................................................................... 11 v 2.1.2 Learning materials ............................................................................................... 13 2.1.3 Child -teacher ratio .............................................................................................. 13 2.1.4 Physical environment .......................................................................................... 14 2.2 Benefits of ECCE programmes .................................................................................... 15 2.2.1 Cognitive and language development .................................................................. 16 2.2.2 Social and emotional development ...................................................................... 16 2.2.3 School readiness .................................................................................................. 16 2.2.4 Provision of care and support .............................................................................. 17 2.2.5 Equality ............................................................................................................... 17 2.2.6 Escape from poverty and poor health .................................................................. 18 2.3 Challenges in the provision of ECCE services ............................................................. 18 2.3.1 Lack of provision for young children in international and national frameworks . 19 2.3.2 Lack of access to ECCE services ......................................................................... 20 2.3.3 Funding constraints ............................................................................................. 20 2.3.4 Poor stakeholder relationships ............................................................................. 21 2.3.5 Gender disparity in provision of ECCE services ................................................. 22 2.3.6 Unqualified work force and low compensation ................................................... 23 2.3.7 Lack of public awareness and home support ....................................................... 24 2.3.8 Lack of proper infrastructure ............................................................................... 25 2.4 Gaps in the literature review ........................................................................................ 26 2.5 Theoretical framework ................................................................................................. 26 2.5.1 Human capital theory .......................................................................................... 26 2.5.1.1 Application of the theory to the study ........................................................... 27 2.5.1.2 Limitations of human capital theory .............................................................. 27 vi 2.5.2 Child rights based approach ................................................................................ 28 2.5.2.1 Application of theory to the study ................................................................. 29 2.5.2.2 Limitations of the child rights based approach .............................................. 29 2.6 Summary ...................................................................................................................... 30 CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY ............................................................................. 31 3.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 31 3.1 Research strategy ......................................................................................................... 31 3.2 Data collection methods ............................................................................................... 31 3.2.1 Document review ................................................................................................ 32 3.2.2 Web research ....................................................................................................... 32 3.2.3 Data base ............................................................................................................. 32 CHAPTER FOUR: DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS......................................................... 34 4.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 34 4.1 Standards set by ECCE programmes ........................................................................... 34 4.1.1 Curriculum .......................................................................................................... 34 4.1.2 Child –teacher ratio ............................................................................................. 35 4.1.3 Learning materials ............................................................................................... 36 4.1.4 Physical environment .......................................................................................... 36 4.2 Benefits of participating in ECCE programmes for young children ............................. 37 4.3 Challenges that affect the provision of ECCE services ................................................ 40 4.3.1 Lack of government support and funding ............................................................ 40 4.3.2 Lack of access to ECCE services ......................................................................... 41 4.3.3 Lack of trained and qualified teachers ................................................................. 42 4.3.4 Language barriers ...............................................................................................