Friday, December 13, 2013

Getting to Know my International Contact

Many thanks to Chris of the British Association of Early Childhood Education UK who was helpful with this blog assignment. Chris is based in the UK and he confirmed that the issue of teacher qualification is also on a top gear in the UK. From one of the sites he sent to me, there are debates on whether EC teachers should possess a degree or not and majority have voted in affirmation. But Chris said something that bugs me, he said some of the best teachers he had in the past were not degree holders, how do we then relate this to the fact that a teacher's qualification has a direct effect on children's development which Chris also confirmed? He is of the opinion that education might not be the ultimate in becoming a well seasoned teacher. Other issues of concern in the UK are school readiness and standardization.

Just like in some of the resources we read this week, teachers or EC professionals are expected to have regular training and upgrade of certificates in the UK. This should be done by employers

Chris hopes to be a research practitioner in the field of Education which it's why he is doing his PhD in Education. He looks forward to postulating more critical theories and has some already published. And then, he hopes to finish up as a consultant.

Chris' greatest challenge like most of us is fund to complete his PhD  program. I wish Chris all the best in his pursuit in life.

Some helpful sites sent to me by Chris. Teachers qualification debate http://www.daynurseries.co.uk/news/article.cfm/id/26/Debate-should-early-years-teachers-have-qualifed-teacher-status
 
http://www.daynurseries.co.uk/news/article.cfm/id/1560801/early-years-professional-launches-petition-in-battle-to-gain-qualified-teacher-status
 
Issues of School readiness and standardization
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-24079951
 
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/10307682/Failure-to-acknowledge-the-concept-of-readiness-in-education-this-is-the-tragedy.html
 
Posted by at

4 comments:

  1. Cassie InschoDecember 15, 2013 at 12:07 PM

    Chris also assisted me with this assignment. He was the only one of my international contacts that consistently wrote me back and I'm so glad to have made contact with him! Over the course of these 8 weeks that I have communicated with him, I have learned a lot from him. It seems that they have the same topics for debate that we have, but that their early childhood education is much more valued. Do you feel that is the case?

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousDecember 15, 2013 at 12:24 PM

    Thank you for sharing information about your contact in the UK. My contact is from South Africa. She told me that they are debating the same issues in her country as well. One of the challenges they face is an inequity in financial access to higher education, something that seems to be a global issue.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AdebisiDecember 15, 2013 at 1:22 PM

    Thanks for this information. I quite agree with Chris that been a good teacher is not necessarily having a degree but at the same time we learn a lot while in school. It's somehow daisy.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousDecember 15, 2013 at 3:38 PM

    I would also have to agree that a degree does not make you a teacher or a good teacher. Glad you were able to build a relationship and gain insight at the same time.

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)