In his recent IOE Blog post, Peter Moss describes a new OECD study, called the International Early Learning Study (IELS), which is set to begin piloting in 2017. As Moss points out, while government officials are aware of what’s in store, few in the early childhood education field are. Moss and his colleagues have written an article intended to spark a broad conversation about this study will mean for early learning and they have identified five areas they view as causes for concern. Among their concerns, the authors point to the complexity of all educational systems and the potential harm of applying one standard to many different countries. To quote the IOE Blog post:
The IELS, and similar testing regimes, seek to apply a universal framework to all countries, all pedagogies and all services. This approach rests on the principle that everything can be reduced to a common outcome, standard and measure. What it cannot do is accommodate, let alone welcome, diversity – of paradigm or theory, pedagogy or provision, childhood or culture. The issue raised – and not acknowledged, let alone addressed by the OECD in its documentation – is how an IELS can be applied to places and people who do not share its (implicit) positions, understandings, assumptions and values.
As we often scan education news from around the world, this week we share links that provide some information about the issues and concerns facing several countries on the issue of preschool, or early childhood education. Here is a short list of articles that have been posted by online news organizations this summer.
IRELAND
Why we need more men working in our creches http://buff.ly/2aZGqPa
Preschools issue warning over free childcare scheme http://buff.ly/2aZOkYT
SCOTLAND
Bill to increase free pre-school childcare in Scotland – BBC News http://buff.ly/2aX1PKt
How will early years be affected by Brexit? | Nursery World http://buff.ly/2aX1Yxi
UNITED STATES
How the U.S. Is Failing Its Youngest Students http://buff.ly/2b5JcXn
AUSTRALIA
Reimagining NSW: tackling education inequality with early intervention and better research http://buff.ly/2axJ9CR
Why We Need To Teach Our Kids About Money In Early Childhood http://buff.ly/2aPaHCD
MALAYSIA
Study to gauge standard of English at preschools – Community | The Star Online http://buff.ly/2aPbTWv
Skills upgrade for pre-school teachers – Community | The Star Online http://buff.ly/2axLSMN
SINGAPORE
What goes on in the (not so) secret world of 4-year-olds http://buff.ly/2axLQEE
Free child care may limit options, increase burden on taxpayers: MSF http://buff.ly/2axMqCi
INDIA
Preschool or Child Care Market in India to Grow 21.84% by 2020 – Increasing Implementation of Childcare Services at Workplace – Research and Markets | Business Wire http://buff.ly/2aZNqf2
Preschool skills may predict kindergarten math success http://buff.ly/2aZNH1y
Pre-school boys should be treated more like girls, says study | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis http://buff.ly/2aD5MRL
34 per cent Muslim children have never been to pre-school: UNICEF : News http://buff.ly/2aX0PWN
–Deirdre Faughey
International Education News 