E-Learning Programs

Dear All,

I attended Dr. Kim lecture for the first time. I was attracted by Dr. Kim’s lecture on the first unit about EFA topic. Thank you so much to Dr. Kim.
I can realize the importance of the early childhood education (ECE).

I would like to share some information that I read in UNESCO web about EFA.

Early childhood is defined as the period from birth to 8 years old. A time of remarkable brain development, these years lay the foundation for subsequent learning.
A lot of effort has been putting in by UNSESCO through Education for All (EFA) Framework.
EFA has six goals which defined in The World Education Forum, Dakar 2000. EFA agreed to reach the goals by 2015. The first goal is expand early childhood care and education. Other goals include the access of education for all children and the improvement of all aspect of education quality.

UNESCO focuses on key areas to accelerate EFA goals. The key areas are:
a)To initiative Literacy for Empowerment on countries that need the most. Target on 35 countries.
b)To initiative Teacher Training at the area that do not have enough teachers. It is initiated in Sub-Sharan Africa.
c)To initiative Global Education to scale up HIV and AIDS prevention efforts in education.

Besides these, two education work centres and six institutes were formed in Europe and Asia to track the particular problem of concerns as part of the monitoring process for further improvement.
UNESCO works together with development partners, governments, NGO and civil society to achieve its goals.

Come back to Ms Balan’s questions about the reach out to in the rural area and needy families where transportation, healthcare and food are hard to come by, I would like to suggest as following:

The key area to focus is the rural area. We can work with government, private sectors or NGO or International Buddhist charity society like Tzu Chi (suggested by Sis GY) to initiate:

a)Campaign to advocate human rights education. This will help to the local people to understand the importance of literacy during early childhood period. This is also will help to get support and response from the local community to supports children’s needs.
b)Food and transportation fundraising. This is for the education development purpose. Food and transportation to be provide to the poor students in the care centre or kindergartens and pre-schools.
When the basic issues resolved, the children then can focus on their study.
c)Set-up the Child care centre, kindergartens or pre-schools in the rural area. The parents and local community can monitor the progress of ECE and evaluate it from time to time. The direct feedbacks and suggestions from them or through survey are the most welcome for further improvements.
d)Special teacher training to handle emotional need from the broken and abusive family. We also can seek help from UNESCO education work centres/ institutes that tracking for special problem.

Thanks and with regards,