THE NETWORK ON EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE INTEGRATION OF EDUCATION AND CARE IN ECEC

Mexico’s early childhood education and care system Mexico has a split system in ECEC services at national level, directed to children from 0 to 4 years For children of 5-6 years the national Education System has nearly 100% enrolment in Preschool. The main providers of ECEC services are Federal and state governments. Municipal governments have no legal obligation and therefore there are very few municipal ECEC services. The private sector offers ECEC services at high cost. Additionally, there are few services organized by the community in urban marginalized areas, leaded by social organizations and religious groups. De 0 a 4 años es dónde se tiene poca cobertura a nivel nacional. En la presentación de la reunión anterior se mostró que se alcanza un 15% de niños de 0 a 4 años con servicios de educación inicial. En Preescolar, a pesar de la cobertura completa de 5 y 6 años, la problemática principal se encuentra en la calidad del servicio. Se procura impulsar la participación de los 3 niveles de gobierno en el apoyo a la educación inicial.

Evolution of the current system Recientemente, es importante mencionar la obligatoriedad del Preescolar, que está dirigida a reconocer la importancia de la educación de la primera infancia. Un programa que tiene gran impulso en México es el de Estancias Infantiles de Sedesol, que ha crecido fuertemente de 2007 a la fecha.

Governance ECEC structure: Split System (0-3 years old) FEDERAL GOVERNMENT Education Ministry Health Ministry Social Development Ministry Early Childhood Education Early Childhood Health and Care Early Childhood Welfare Public Education Sub ministry Social Healthcare Institute (IMSS) Social Development Ministry (SEDESOL) Estas son las principales dependencias que atienden servicios de educación inicial. Se clasificó la educación inicial en 3 tipos de atención, que corresponden con 3 Secretarías de Estado. No existe un liderazgo de alguna de estas dependencias en la definición de los objetivos, estructuras y curriculum de la educación inicial. Indigenous Education Social and Security Services for State Workers (ISSSTE) National Council for Educational Promotion (CONAFE) National Family Development System (DIF)

Governance ECEC structure: Preschool(4-6 years old) The Federal Government is responsible for the legal framework of the National Education System Compulsory Preschool services are directed to children of 4-6 years old and are operated (mostly) by the local Ministries of Education El nivel de Preescolar requiere de ajustes para una mejor calidad: los horarios de atención de los servicios y la profesionalización del personal. Preschool services are only offered by public or private institutions

Structure of the split system for ECEC 0-4 years old: Legislation Early Childhood Education Early Childhood Health and Care Early Childhood Welfare Political Constitution of the United Mexican States Development National Plan (2007-2012) General Education Law Social Development General Law Indigenous Rights Law Federal Work Law Welfare Law Este diagrama muestra la aplicación de las distintas leyes y ordenamientos en cada uno de los sistemas de educación inicial que existen en México. Cada sector retoma las leyes que le atañen directamente sin existir una sola estructura legal que rija los servicios. De hecho se están revisando actualizaciones a las Normas de regulación de los servicios, y se han propuesto iniciativas de Ley para educación inicial. Educational Program (2007-2012) Social Security Law Civil Protection Law Discrimination prevention & elimination Federal Law Protection of children & teenagers rights Law

Structure of the split system for ECEC 0-4 years old: Objectives Early Childhood Education Early Childhood Health and Care Early Childhood Welfare Early childhood education: Improve children’s whole development IMSS: Provide elements to benefit their whole development Contribute to reduce job access delay and foster its retention for working mothers and single fathers Parent-lead early childhood: Promote education, equitable service, committed participation ISSSTE: Provide care services for child welfare and development Los objetivos varían para cada tipo de servicio. Desde el cuidado, hasta el desarrollo integral de los niños. También se presenta el servicio de Conafe dirigido principalmente a padres y cuidadores. La diversidad de servicios puede seguir existiendo, porque atienden a diferentes poblaciones: niños de padres asalariados, niños en condiciones vulnerables, niños en comunidades marginadas. Sin embargo, debe existir un solo objetivo general. DIF: Provide support to working mothers and offer care services for their children in vulnerable conditions

None explicit educational program Structure of the split system for ECEC 0-4 years old: Focus of each programme Early Childhood Education Early Childhood Health and Care Early Childhood Welfare CONAFE: Development of competencies in 4 areas IMSS: Based on children needs and characteristics None explicit educational program Regular System: Development of children in 3 areas ISSSTE: Based on the Preschool Education Program (SEP) Lo que podría ser el curriculum de los servicios presenta diferentes definiciones en cada tipo de servicio. No existe un solo curriculum, y tampoco se presenta una sola normatividad al respecto. Cada Institución ha desarrollado sus programas de acuerdo con sus objetivos y evolución de sus ámbitos de interés: Salud, Educación o Cuidado. DIF: Pedagogic activities based on the Early Childhood National Program (PIE)

Structure of the split system for ECEC 0-4 years old: Staff and Ratio Early Childhood Education Early Childhood Health and Care Early Childhood Welfare Staff CONAFE: Educational Developer DIF: Community Counselor Person in charge of the centre Early Childhood educator Educational assistant, Childcare specialist, Pediatrician, Social worker, Pedagogue, Psychologist, Nurse, Cook, Music teacher La distribución de los puestos de staff y asistentes directos es muy variable en cada tipo de servicio. Children per class CONAFE: 1:15 IMSS: 1:7 1:13 Regular System: 1:10 ISSSTE: 1:12 DIF: 1:14

Structure of the split system for ECEC 0-4 years old: Enrolment (Selective) Early Childhood Education Early Childhood Health and Care Early Childhood Welfare CENDIs services are directed to parents working in public education institutions ISSSTE: Children of parents working for any public institution Children of working or studying single parents with no access to childcare services from public institutions in urban areas CONAFE services are focused in marginal areas IMSS: Children of parents working for registered private institutions El tema de matrícula muestra que los servicios están dirigidos a segmentos de la población, sin que se tenga una orientación universal. DIF: Children of working parents without social assistance working for registered institutions

Term period, Opening hours and Fees Structure of the split system for ECEC 0-4 years old: Term period, Opening hours and Fees Early Childhood Education Early Childhood Health and Care Early Childhood Welfare Term period CONAFE: 9 months All year around except for national holidays (open on holidays by consent between the director and parents) Regular System: 200 days Opening hours CONAFE: 2 hrs per week IMSS: 9 hours per day 8 hours per day Regular: 4 hrs per day ISSSTE: 40 hours per week Es importante observar que los horarios que se brindan en algunos servicios son muy cortos. De 2 a 4 horas. Las tarifas son prácticamente gratuitas en casi todos los servicios. DIF: Half day 3 hours Full day 9 hours Fees No fees for enrolment IMSS: 1% of the working mother or father salary Governmental monthly support per child ISSSTE: Service covered by the institution DIF: according to a socio-economic study

Plans for integration: Relevant but isolated efforts Early Childhood Education Early Childhood Health and Care Early Childhood Welfare The Public Education Ministry (SEP) is developing the “Strengthen of early education and child development model” which attempts to unite criteria for all child care institutions Congress recently proposed and is debating on a new Law to regulate all childcare centers SEDESOL is promoting a more comprehensive programme which contemplates more educational contents Health policy for childcare centers has been updated to improve accidents prevention and to promote a better qualitative service Los esfuerzos de integración existen en México, pero continúan siendo aislados. Algunas dependencias continúan trabajando en acciones como la actualización de las normas regulatorias.

Conclusions Executive and legislative instances must raise their awareness about the need to establish a strong ECEC policy according to a National Plan. An ECEC policy that promotes high quality and whole development for all Mexican children from 0 to 4 years old. It should allow different institutions to provide their particular services and set up general common elements that ensure quality Se hace necesario impulsar la integración de un sistema único para la educación inicial que considere: Objetivos Curriculum Fuerza de trabajo Instalaciones Este sistema único deberá considerar las diversas modalidades que puedan adoptarse en los servicios para responder adecuadamente a la realidad en la que se ofrece. A National Educational Program is also needed to provide all centers with minimum educative objectives for child development