I was able to
establish communication with my colleague that currently is teaching in Dubai.
I am actually in touch with 2 educators in Dubai, as one teaches basic
education grades k to 2 and the other teacher’s special education grades k to
2. I thought this might give me a different perspective of how service
models are delivered in their educational system. After speaking with
them I found it to be very different than I thought it would have been.
They happen to teach in a developed country in Dubai and there is no sign
of poverty within their school. The children come from affluent families
who have high expectations and standards for their children and their
children's education. My friend who teaches basic education stated that
these children are very different that the children she worked with at the
school where I currently teach. She states the children in Dubai have
tremendous respect for their teachers and educators as well as adults in
general. These students want to learn and celebrate knowledge. Many
of these students live in elaborate homes and have access to travel and
experiences. These students are taught religion within the school system
and she feels that this is a great contribute to the respect that these
students demonstrate.
I also had an opportunity
to communicate with another educator in Dubai who teaches special education.
She stated that students in her classroom although they may have
disabilities have access to medical services, many which are provided in the
school along with the necessary equipment and technology needed to assist
students in learning. The one thing that she did tell me that I was not
expecting is that it is not like this in all areas of Dubai. In developing
countries they often do not have the funds to formally educate students, which
is creating a bigger problem, as these children become adults who are unable to
read. She stated that there has been an increase in funds provided to
these countries as public awareness has placed pressure on the government to
share the wealth with all of their citizens not just a selected few.
Advocacy groups are forming and demanding that equal services be
delivered around the world
I also have been
in touch with Eric Atmore who is an advocate for Early Childhood in Africa.
He sent me an article that quite informative and alarming about the
poverty and its effects of children in Africa. This article states
that (59.2%) of
children live in circumstances of dire poverty (Department of Social
Development,
Department of Education & Department of Health, 2004). These numbers
are alarming, as these children are not receiving the services they need in the
areas of nutrition, education, health services protection from child
trafficking and many, many others. There is a range of challenges and
obstacles facing children and their families, teachers, communities and
government. One of the major challenges is that of poverty (UNICEF, 2009).
More than
half of South Africa’s children live in severe poverty which jeopardies the realization
of their rights as contained in the South African Constitution. In South
Africa, the majority of children do not have access to an early education
program as many parents and/or families cannot afford to pay for school fees.
Clearly this seems to be a violation of these children's constitutional rights, but not enough is being done to move these children in the right direction.
Eric
Atmore, Lauren van Niekerk & Michaela Ashley-Cooper, CHALLENGES FACING
EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT
SECTOR IN SOUTH AFRICA,
APRIL
18, 2012.
