Assessment of the Implementation of Early Childhood Education (Ece) Curriculum in Private Kindergartens: A Case Study in Kirkos Sub City,
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Date
2023-09
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate early childhood education curriculum implementation in private kindergarten and to explore the status, conduciveness of instructional materials and facilities of the curriculum kindergartens (KG) or preschools use and identify the most pressing challenges that are influencing the preschools gov’t curriculum implementation in Addis Ababa City Administration, Kirkos sub city. A total of 27 participants (Preschool teachers, principals, experts) were selected purposefully and involved on interviews. To gather detailed information from the participants and the observed kindergarten situations/contexts and settings, a qualitative case study approach was used. Accordingly, data were collected through interviews, observations, and document analysis. The data gathered from the aforementioned participants was coded, grouped under recurrent themes, and then interpreted accordingly. Findings of this study also revealed that KG schools used various kinds of curricula from different sources. Moreover, the study revealed that in consequence of these curricula from different sources (countries abroad and reference books establishing individuals and business doing enterprises), the curricula that were practiced in the KG schools were not age and developmentally appropriate. Finding of the study also showed that academic areas focused curricula and somewhat semi teacher centered and semi child-centered teaching-learning approaches were largely in practices in these KG schools rather than play-based approach of government curricula. Few KGs try to improve/upgrade the government curricula and apply it and others use another “school developed” curricula. Provision of the gov’t curriculum, syllabus and teacher's guides were also being available to all private kindergartens in adequate amount without preconditions. The study also revealed good commitment of the government to promote KG school education. suggested points on the government curricula was it would better to prepare new highly integrated KG curricula or revisiting the existing competency-based partially integrated curricula partitioned into five thematic learning areas and upgrade it according to the age levels.
Key words: Early Childhood Education, Kindergarten, Preschool Curriculum, School Based Curriculum