Preschool
On the premise of one of my schools we house a preschool. The preschool was started a number of years ago after the government made a push for schools to start providing education for young children. Unfortunately, after this push was made the government failed to support its own initiative. Thus, we do have a preschool in my village, but unfortunately it takes place in a shack and has no resources.
This, in effect, means that the preschool is severely lacking in areas that it desperately needs assistance. The teacher has never had any formal training. It has no resources, no supplies, etc. The government provides no money for the endeavor either in the form of salary for the teacher or resources for the children. The children pay 20 rand a month to attend (less than 3 dollars) which goes towards paying the teacher.
It is situations such as this which I often find so frustrating. The preschool was started because the Department of Education made a push for it but didn’t give any real support after the initial thrust. The preschool has applied to become associated with the department but has yet to hear back from them in regards. So, for now, the children are overcrowded into a tiny homemade room that does nothing to shelter the young children from the elements. They have no materials with which to teach or play. They have no trained professional to shape their minds. Instead they are sent to school, with the hopes of their parents that they’re providing them with opportunities for the future, while in fact the children are little better off than if they were to stay at home.
We need to look at this situation and the thousands of similar ones. Why is it that we cannot identify the problem and work towards ways of improving it? Why can't the government provide training? Why can’t they give more clear outlines for how the preschool can become government sanctioned and receive funds? Why is it always too little with seemingly no one to care about the outcome?
This, in effect, means that the preschool is severely lacking in areas that it desperately needs assistance. The teacher has never had any formal training. It has no resources, no supplies, etc. The government provides no money for the endeavor either in the form of salary for the teacher or resources for the children. The children pay 20 rand a month to attend (less than 3 dollars) which goes towards paying the teacher.
It is situations such as this which I often find so frustrating. The preschool was started because the Department of Education made a push for it but didn’t give any real support after the initial thrust. The preschool has applied to become associated with the department but has yet to hear back from them in regards. So, for now, the children are overcrowded into a tiny homemade room that does nothing to shelter the young children from the elements. They have no materials with which to teach or play. They have no trained professional to shape their minds. Instead they are sent to school, with the hopes of their parents that they’re providing them with opportunities for the future, while in fact the children are little better off than if they were to stay at home.
We need to look at this situation and the thousands of similar ones. Why is it that we cannot identify the problem and work towards ways of improving it? Why can't the government provide training? Why can’t they give more clear outlines for how the preschool can become government sanctioned and receive funds? Why is it always too little with seemingly no one to care about the outcome?
posted by Cait at 10:02 AM
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