_x000C_Equal Opportunity in Early Childhood Education
Early Childhood Education
By Kylie Thomas
EQUITY IN
P
Planning for equity can be a difficult task for early childhood educators across Australia. According to Sims (2009), equity in early childhood education refers to fairness and is based on a balance of two different sets of rights: every child’s right to an opportunity to attend an early childhood environment and every child’s right to participate and be represented equally within that environment.
Children have diverse needs and belong to different cultures and social groups which results in children participating in early childhood environments differently. Children’s access to quality early childhood programmes which address issues of equity and social justice are crucial in maximising children’s participation in the learning experiences (Robinson & Diaz, 2006).
Equal Opportunity in Early Childhood Education
Under the National Partnership Agreement on Early Childhood Education, states and territories have committed to achieving universal access to early childhood education for all children by 2013 (Council of Australian Governments, 2008). The Agreement targets a child’s right to have an opportunity to attend an early childhood environment, by stating that by 2013 children will have access to quality programmes organised by four year university trained early childhood teachers (Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, 2011). However throughout Australia there is currently a shortage of teachers, so will these goals be achievable? While this is a positive agreement addressing each child’s right to the opportunity to attend an early childhood environment, it neglects the need to address each child’s right to equal participation. Opportunity alone will not improve the quality of early learning experiences provided to children.
Every Child’s Right to Participate
Equality of participation is an issue in early childhood education that is concerned with early childhood
By Kylie Thomas
EQUITY IN
P
Planning for equity can be a difficult task for early childhood educators across Australia. According to Sims (2009), equity in early childhood education refers to fairness and is based on a balance of two different sets of rights: every child’s right to an opportunity to attend an early childhood environment and every child’s right to participate and be represented equally within that environment.
Children have diverse needs and belong to different cultures and social groups which results in children participating in early childhood environments differently. Children’s access to quality early childhood programmes which address issues of equity and social justice are crucial in maximising children’s participation in the learning experiences (Robinson & Diaz, 2006).
Equal Opportunity in Early Childhood Education
Under the National Partnership Agreement on Early Childhood Education, states and territories have committed to achieving universal access to early childhood education for all children by 2013 (Council of Australian Governments, 2008). The Agreement targets a child’s right to have an opportunity to attend an early childhood environment, by stating that by 2013 children will have access to quality programmes organised by four year university trained early childhood teachers (Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, 2011). However throughout Australia there is currently a shortage of teachers, so will these goals be achievable? While this is a positive agreement addressing each child’s right to the opportunity to attend an early childhood environment, it neglects the need to address each child’s right to equal participation. Opportunity alone will not improve the quality of early learning experiences provided to children.
Every Child’s Right to Participate
Equality of participation is an issue in early childhood education that is concerned with early childhood
References: Further information about sustained shared thinking practices can be found at: http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/pdf/shared_thinking.pdf Council of Australian Governments. (2008). National partnership agreement on early childhood education. Retrieved May 18, 2011, from http://www.federalfinancialrelations.gov.au/content/national_partnership_agreements/ED005/national_partnership_on_early_childhood_ education_update.pdf Council of Australian Governments. (2009). Belonging, being and becoming: the early years learning framework for Australia. Retrieved May 25, 2010, from http://www.deewr.gov.au/earlychildhood/policy_agenda/quality/pages/earlyyearslearningframework.aspx Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. (2011). Universal access to early childhood education. Retrieved May 20, 2011, from http://www.deewr.gov.au/Earlychildhood/Policy_Agenda/ECUA/Documents/UA_ECE_Factsheet.pdf Elliot, A. (2006). Early childhood education: Pathways to quality and equity for all children. Victoria: Australian Council for Educational Research. Robinson, K.H & Diaz, C. (2006). Diversity and difference in early childhood education: issues for theory and practice. New York: Open University Press. Sims, M. (2009). Nurturing a sense of fairness in children. Retreived May 20, 2011, from http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/every_child_magazine/every_child_index/nurturing_a_sense_of_fairness_in_children.html Siraj-Blatchford, I. (2005). Quality interactions in the early years. Retrieved May 7, 2011, from http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/pdf/shared_thinking.pdf United Nations. (1989). The convention on the rights of the child. Retrieved March 23, 2011, from http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/crc.htm