EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT

Lesson 18: Factors influencing Curriculum Planning in ECE

Society/ community related

Impact of Policies: States generally hold the power to set and enforce minimum standards, grant licenses to schools, certificates to teachers. Most states provide aid to run ECE programmes. To receive financial aid, the schools are required to meet certain standards of curriculum, qualifications of teachers, number of working days in a year, play ground facilities etc.

Expectations of community: The teacher should form a partnership with parents through home visits, frequent communication and a welcoming attitude toward volunteering and classroom observation and plan the curriculum in such a way keeping the cultural background of children and their parental expectations about the learning experiences. Urban parents’ expectations differ regarding their children’s learning compared to rural parents.

Needs of the society. The curriculum should represent both the society and the child’s needs. It should be constructed in terms of the nature of the learner. Children influence the programme. The school is there for them. Teachers have to plan the programme to help the children to reach their potential.