ACEI Resources

In relation to my international “friend”, I find the Global Resources section of the ACEI website particularly interesting.

Today as I was browsing through the articles and highlights, I found a blurb from Senegal, a small country just West of Mali. Granted, the notation was several years ago but it attempted to share encouraging news regarding efforts to increase early learning opportunities for children in that region.

The thing I found so interesting, though, was that the articles that followed were much more recent and much more detailed. One report created last year identified that in the last 5 years the total enrollment primary school has not significantly changed. The average school size is around 375 students, but the data only included information of the number of teachers from 2005/06, which was approximately 100 teachers per school. The big difference is that the countries mentioned are all in Southeastern Africa (Mozambique, Botswana, and Ethiopia.

This information seems to further support my friend’s statement that there is a large disparity between nations who have the financial means to support their children’s education and those who do not. 

International Communication Continued

Good Evening (or morning, afternoon, night depending on when you are reading this!),
I am excited to share some good news and some not so good news...
I have a "friend" from Mali, Africa!!!
(Unfortunately, I don't really know his name yet.) Sounds strange, but it's true.

Since everyone was experiencing so many challenges on the email route, I thought I would try a different avenue: Facebook. I started with the Association for Childhood Education International home page, and began sending requests to random people who also "liked" the site. Low and behold - I got a response! I believe his name is Mahamadou Cisse, but I can't be sure. His Facebook Username is Appel du Mali, vision sur un continent which translates into Call of Mali, a vision of continent.
I then followed his Facebook links to his Blog: http://mahamadouc.blogspot.com/p/cible.html which is where I found what I believe to be his name. (This could sound like stalking if I wasn't actually conversing with the man.)

We have only be chatting for a little over a week, but already I am amazed by what I have learned. One of the most intersesting elements is that his Blog and Facebook pages are in French! (Hooray for Google Translator!) To my relief, though, he also speaks English. He is a student at the University studying Literatures and Civilizations of english countries ( England and United States). But I do say that finding information on his pages is fun and I may just learn a little French before all is said and done.

Mahamadouc is not really an Early Childhood professional, but is very active in regards to education in Africa. Graciously, he has passed my request on to several of his colleagues who are in the EC field. In our latest communique he spoke of the severe inadequacy of the education system, mentioning that most urban, public schools may have up to 200 students per teacher and that rural schools are exponentially worse!  It came as no big surprise that Mahameadouc also says that there is a definite line between the "haves" and "have nots" and that only the more affluent can afford to spend money on their chidren's education.

I so look forward to continuing our conversations as well as the prospect of meeting even more friends around the globe that can aid me in my journey to understanding the plight and prosperity of children all over the world.

Sharing Web Resources

The Association for Childhood Education International http://www.acei.org/ is a global organization with ties to the United Nations that strives to support Early Childhood Professionals along their journey in the field as a means to significantly impact the changing world of children – educationally and developmentally. 

A recently published Global News article focuses on the urgent need for quality, accessible preschool for all children as well as an expanded awareness and attention to the issue of childhood malnutrition and its effect on learning. It does not come as a big surprise that children who spend at least one year in pre-schooling are more successful in primary school and beyond. One outstanding point relates to the battle against childhood malnutrition - that it is not necessarily money that is the issue, but governmental and societal leaders who fail to combat this condition head on (UNESCO, 2012, p 2).

UNESCO (2012, April) Expanding equitable early childhood care and education is an urgent need. EFA GMR.

Retrieved from http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0021/002160/216038E.pdf

International Contacts & Professional Organization

Although I have made minimal progress in establishing contact with an Early Childhood professional in another country, I have put out a few feelers. 

In the mean time, I have visited the World Forum and listened to a couple of radio podcasts: Maysoun Chehab from the Arab Resource Collective spoke of efforts to support children, families and educators in post war Beirut, Lebanon and Deevia Bhana, a professor at the University of KwaZulu – Natal in South Africa, who discussed the issue of educating and advocating for primary school children who are dealing with sexual violence and HIV/AIDS.

While it is sad to think that young children are experiencing such horrific events like war, it is unimaginable to me that girls as young as 7 are in fear of boys and men because of the threat of contact or attack by those who may be infected with HIV or AIDS. It boggles my mind that a first or second grader would have to know about sex and abstinence at all, much less to ensure personal survival.

Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) has an intriguing website filled with news articles, publications and related events. The most interesting links I have discovered thus far are   the Global Resource links that specifically address educational diversity around the world: at the moment, there are six regions from which to choose and research.  I look forward to spending time perusing this site throughout this course and beyond!

https://www.acei.org/