THE IMPACT OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION ON CHILD DEVELOPMENT IN SELECTED SCHOOLS IN LUSAKA URBAN Submitted By Sarah Shamoya 018-885 BDS i Table of Contents CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Study Background ................................................................................................................. 3 1.3 Statement of the Problem ...................................................................................................... 6 1.4 General research objective .................................................................................................... 7 1.4.1 Specific objectives of the study ...................................................................................... 7 1.5 Main Research Question ....................................................................................................... 7 1.5.1 Specific Research Questions .......................................................................................... 7 1.6 Assumptions .......................................................................................................................... 8 1.7 Significance of the Study ...................................................................................................... 8 1.8 Justification of the Study ....................................................................................................... 8 1.9 Delimitations ......................................................................................................................... 9 1.10 Limitations of the study....................................................................................................... 9 1.11 Definitions of key terms and concepts ................................................................................ 9 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW ....................................................................................... 11 2.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 11 2.2 The origins of Early Childhood Education and Aims ......................................................... 11 2.4 Relevance of ECCED to development ................................................................................ 13 2.4.1 Children have a right to live and develop ..................................................................... 13 2.4.2 Transmission of societal values .................................................................................... 13 2.4.3 Economic benefits ........................................................................................................ 13 2.4.5 It helps to reduce inequalities ....................................................................................... 14 2.5 Early Childhood Education and Its Impact on Child Development – Global View ........... 14 2.5.1 Japan ................................................................................................................................. 14 2.5.2 China ............................................................................................................................. 16 2.5.3 Australia........................................................................................................................ 16 ii 2.5.4 Canada .......................................................................................................................... 17 2.5.5 Zambia .......................................................................................................................... 18 2.6 The components of good Early Childhood Education ........................................................ 19 2.7 Effective Early Childhood Care Education Implementation............................................... 20 2.7.1 Environment ................................................................................................................. 20 2.7.2 Curriculum for ECE...................................................................................................... 21 2.7.3 Assessment in Pre-school ............................................................................................. 22 2.7.4 Materials and Equipment .............................................................................................. 23 2.7.5 Comprehensive ECE Services ...................................................................................... 24 2.7.6 Professional Development ............................................................................................ 24 2.7.7 Staff Qualifications ....................................................................................................... 24 2.7.8 Leadership and Administrative Supervision................................................................. 25 2.9 Theoretical Framework ....................................................................................................... 25 2.9.1 Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory ................................................................................. 25 2.10 Conceptual Framework ..................................................................................................... 26 CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY .............................................................................................. 28 3.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 28 3.2 Research Design .................................................................................................................. 28 3.3 Sampling techniques (population, sample and sampling procedure) .................................. 28 3.3.1 Target Population ......................................................................................................... 28 3.3.2 Sample Size .................................................................................................................. 28 3.3.3 Sampling Procedure ...................................................................................................... 29 3.4 Instruments for Data Collection .......................................................................................... 29 3.5 Procedure for Data Collection ............................................................................................. 29 3.6 Data Analysis ...................................................................................................................... 29 3.7 Ethical Consideration .......................................................................................................... 30 CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION ..................................................................................... 31 4.1 Overview ............................................................................................................................. 31 To ascertain the perspectives and awareness of the impact of early childhood education on child development in selected schools and households in Lusaka District; ..................... 31 4.1 Social Demographics........................................................................................................... 31 4.1.0 Number of Years Worked in Current Position by Respondents ................................... 31 4.1.1 Highest Qualification of Respondents .......................................................................... 31 iii 4.1.2 Parents and Guardians .................................................................................................. 31 4.2 Study Findings..................................................................................................................... 32 4.2.0 Ascertaining of the perspectives and awareness of the impact of early childhood education on child development in selected schools and households in Lusaka District...... 32 4.2.1 Factors that determine the impact of early childhood education on child development in selected schools and households of Lusaka District. ............................................................. 34 4.2.2 Impact of Early Childhood Education On Child Development in Selected Schools and Households of Lusaka District. ............................................................................................. 35 CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION ........................................................................................................... 37 5.0 Overview ............................................................................................................................. 37 5.1 Ascertaining of the perspectives and awareness of the impact of early childhood education on child development in selected schools and households in Lusaka District. ......................... 37 5.2 Factors That Determine the Impact of Early Childhood Education On Child Development in Selected Schools and Households of Lusaka District ............................................................... 38 5.3 The impact of early childhood education on child development in selected schools and households of Lusaka District ................................................................................................... 40 CHAPTER SIX: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ..................................................