Standards of ECCD

Existing ECCD Existing Early Childhood Care & Education in Davao City: Demographics/Trend

Early Childhood Care & Development standards: National Early Learning Framework

-Facility

Curriculum

-Staff: Child Ratio

-Curriculum a) National

The Policy Profile of ECCD is found in Article XIV section 18 of the Philippine Constitution which states that Early Childhood Care Development provides curriculum standards for 5 year olds. It aims to enhance the quality and coverage of essential health nutrition, psychological development and early education services for children aged zero to six (De Leon, 2008). Our government has established the Republic Act No. 8980 which is known as the Early Childhood Care Development Act. This promulgated a comprehensive policy and a national system for early childhood care and development providing funds therefore and for other purposes including also day care services established under Republic Act 6972 which requires all government units to establish a day care center in every village. This institutionalized center-based programs of both

public and private preschools, workplace related childcare and education programs, child minding centers, church-based early education programs (ECCD Act of 2000). Definition of Terms according to Section 4 of RA 8980 ECCD System- refers to the full range of health, nutrition, early education and Social services programs that provide for the basic holistic needs of young Children from birth to age six to promote their optimum growth and Development.

ECCD Curriculum refers to age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate educational objective program of activities, organized learning experiences and recommended learning materials for children that are implemented by service providers through center and homebased programs. It shall consist of national program goals and guidelines, instructional objectives and content outlines integrating local learning experiences and indigenous learning materials.

Parent Education- refers to the various formal & alternative means of providing parents with information, skills and support system to assist them in their roles as their childrens primary caregivers and educators.

Teacher, Practitioner, educator- refer to those working in the early childhood field

Existing ECCD in Davao City

As of April 11, 2011 there is a total of 6,671 children enrolled in the Department of

Education school based pre-school, 11,981 are enrolled in private preschools. In 2009,

the number of day care centers increased to 560 from 511 in 2007 and 541 in 2008. The

number of daycare workers also increased to 622 in 2009 from 541 in 2007 & 605 in 2008.

There is no significant increase in the average number of enrollees per shift/class from 2008

(edgedavao.net,2011).

Of the total served in Davao City 18,100 or 40% are catered in early childhood care by

The Department of Education in both public and private schools.

As to physical facilities, quality resources and environment there is a specific

requirement and conditions which include space and a safe, stimulating environment. A

minimum of 20 and maximum of 25 students per class shall be handled by permanent kinder teachers. The National Kindergarten Curriculum Guide of 2011 as well as the eight-week

Kindergarten Summer Program are aimed at ensuring that incoming Grade 1 are equipped with

The experiences and skills that will prepare them for their next level of academic work.

Addressing the major gaps are what this research is all about. The early childhood

education program for 0-2 remain a major gap, the limited participation/low level of

participation of parents in ECCD, how multi-sectoral partnerships can be achieved, what needs

to be done to operationalize quality, integrated ECCD.