1. Experiences and Lessons
ECD INITIATIVES UNDER NORTHERN PAKISTAN EDUCATION PROGRAMME (NPEP) BY AKESP
Experiences and Lessons
By Khadija Khan
May 23, 2006

2. Historical Background
Nursery grade was initiated by communities in the DJ schools in late 90s
Need analysis carried out in NAC in 2001
ECD proposal submitted to the AKES,P National Board
ECD teacher training courses started in 2004

4. Strategic focus areas Professional development –short and long courses
Curriculum & material development
Outreach program
Impact and performance evaluation

5. ECD Curriculum Areas Language development Literacy & numeracy
Early sciences
Social, personal & moral development
Music, movement & artistic development

6. Student Development/Learning Outcomes
Language and Literacy
Numeracy
Early Sciences
Childcare, Social, Moral Development
Music, Movement and Artistic Dev.
Listening
Reading
Writing
Use of Languages
Counting
Identify Shapes
Seek Patterns
Dimensions
Differentiation
Estimation
Measurement
Categorisation
Classification
Use of Senses
Explore
Observe
Collect
Describe
Predict
Problem solving
Relations
Safety
Security
Co-plays
Taking care (self & others)
Cleanliness
Responsibility
Use of magic words
Space
Coordinated movements
Rhythms
Colors and combinations
Expression
Gross & Fine motor skills

7. Activities in the two focused schools
Two teachers, one from each attended Early Childhood Education and Development Certificate Programme at AKU-IED in 2005
Developed initial teaching and learning material such as home made tools, blocks, flash cards, poems, zigzag story books, musical instruments, etc.

8. Activities Cont’d…………….
AKES, P and IED provided basic low and no cost material to the two focused schools
Followed the National Curriculum document in the two focused schools because earlier only text books were focused
Traditional classroom set-up changed and applied High/Scope Teaching Approach

9. Activities Cont’d…………….
Scheduled follow-up visits undertaken jointly with PDCN
Developed daily routines such as social gathering, circle time, concept time, lunch time, independent learning in learning areas and games
Developed learning areas for language, Numeracy, Early Sciences, Construction, Art and Music

10. Activities Cont’d…
Six case studies carried out to meet the educational needs
Developed students profiles and trained the teachers to assess them
Involved VECs in decision making and day to day management of ECD

11. Activities Cont’d…
Appointed volunteer teachers to assist the trained teachers
Conducted meetings with parents and VECs for awareness, food, health, cleanliness, moral development and behaviour
Conducted teacher parent meetings to discuss individual issues of students

12. Outcomes in the focused schools
Improved confidence in children and teachers
Improved language development
Demonstrated social and moral skills
Improved teacher students and teacher parent relationship
Developed gross and fine motor skills
Followed curriculum based teaching and learning
More involvement of VEC in ECD activities

13. Pre-intervention
classroom situation in the two focused schools

17. Reflections of children

20. Post-intervention classroom situation in two focused schools

21. Different learning areas

22. We can play music

23. Get ready we have to go to school

24. I can sing a song

25. Let us construct a lovely classroom

26. We are physically fit

27. I love drawing

28. I am happy and confident

29. We can sequence the letters

30. We have different opportunities for learning

31. Can we see your drawing please?

32. We share our food

33. Today food was delicious

34. I love Maths learning area

35. Now Maths is easy

36. My daughter is sick, I am going to doctor

37. I want to become a doctor

38. Madam! Do you see any change?

39. Plans for 2006 Conduct ECD base-line survey
Review the draft curriculum and finalize it
Review the ECD training materials
Conduct ECD in-house training for grade prep teachers

40. Plans for 2006 Cont’d…
Capacity building of teachers for continuous formative assessment of students
Finalize MLSs for ECD grades
Awareness programmes (meeting, workshops and seminars) for parents/ communities and other stakeholders though CDP

41. Challenges Competency & capacity of human resources that is available
Understanding the contextual demands and responding to it
Shortage of classrooms & material in schools
Lack of community awareness
Mono and multi-grade classroom
Measuring progress and development - ongoing
Designing evaluation and research for further development

42. The End