International Contacts – Part 3
Both of my conversation partners responded that quality teachers are highly educated with experience in the field. Claude, from Benin, Africa writes, “The schools which offer good teaching quality are private school with high school fees. Good quality teaching here in BENIN is found in private school because in some of those schools we can find qualified teachers with high degrees. Moreover the teachers have liability of good results otherwise they will be dismissed the following year. There are weekly tests for students in private schools in all the subjects. Most teachers in public schools are not qualified since nowadays students who completed a degree at university apply for a position for part-time work in public school without any prior teaching background. This affects seriously the students’ performance when they sit for different tests at the end of the year” (Claudio, 10, 2011).
Mary, from Christchurch, New Zealand discussed barriers to quality teacher in ECE within her country. She wrote, “Early childhood teachers in New Zealand are not paid as much as primary or secondary teachers and they work longer hours and don't get the holidays that primary and secondary teachers get. The current government has been cutting operational grants to early childhood teachers because it believes that the teachers employed by the early childhood centres do not have to all be qualified. That is why many centres have asked for a small hourly donation so that they can keep all of their qualified teachers and pay for them to do further study. I think the government's lack of understanding of how important early childhood education is will have a trickle-down effect in the future when the kids enter primary school with lack of literacy and numeracy as well as social skills. Quality centres hire primary trained teachers with additional early childhood qualifications. Primary training takes three years and it would take an additional one year of early childhood training to get certified in early childhood as well. Other teachers go back to school to get their early childhood qualifications” (Mary, 10, 2011)
Claude shared his professional goals. He wrote, “First, regarding my professional goal, i'd like to tell you that i'm very passionnate with teaching and i like continuing teaching to students in English in both private and public schools.I really like English and in this regard i'm longing to study English for a few weeks in the forthcoming years maybe either in US or UK for improvement of my spoken English. i've been saving for that” (Claudio, 10, 2011).
This assignment has been very enlightening reading first-hand about the educational systems in foreign countries. My conversation partners have been wonderful responding and answering the questions I pose to them each week. Through the course of our correspondence, we have formed friendships. My professional network has become global.
References
Claudio. (10, 2011). Retrieved from personal email.
Mary. (10, 2011). Retrieved from personal email.
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ReplyDeleteJoey,
ReplyDeleteYour correspondents have been enlightening to us all. I appreciate the open nature from which Claude and Mary speak. I think it is a global issue that ECE is not seen as equal to the later educational years. I hope that soon everyone will see just how valuable a quality ECE is to children, families and the world.
Jennifer
It is nice to have easy acess to the contacts. My contacts are not as easy. It sounds like you are truly benefiting from these contacts. It is very interesting to read about the private schools in Benin. In America we try to beleive our private schools are prime, but they are not governed by state rules concering the teachers. This changes the culture. Great post!!
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful relationships you have developed with your contacts! It's fun for myself to "dialogue" with my own contacts but so enlightening to read what my classmates are finding out as well.
ReplyDeleteClaude's comments are honest and enthusiastic. I am curious what it is about English that makes him like it so much! Regardless, it's exciting to hear someone with goals based upon their passions and making clear progress toward them by saving money to study abroad.
Thank you for sharing!
~Shawn
Joey,
ReplyDeleteYour contacts shared a great deal of information with you, I am glad you were able to make contact with your partners. I see that teachers in those countries work hard to educate children, with little pay and support from the government.
Hi Joey,
ReplyDeleteFirst, congrats on establishing such great contacts and making some global friends. I am sure they have given you a lot to think about, contrast and compare regarding the ECE field during this class.
I enjoyed learning about both your contacts perspectives about current issues and trends as ECE professionals in their respective countries. It is refreshing to learn from people we have never met face to face, but still share our passions!
Thanks for sharing!
~Vanessa