Getting to Know My International Contacts-Part 3

My Blog Address-http://kidgreen-donna.blogspot.com

 

My two international contacts had almost the opposite things to say regarding this week's questions. I put them together so readers could clearly see the contrasts between the two countries:

1.What issues regarding quality and early childhood professionals are being discussed where you live and work?

*Mexico- Recently, Mexico has given more attention to the support needed for primary and pre-school education in our country. There is such a small percentage of children under the age of 5, that even attend some type of early learning program. In recent years, children are now required by law to attend a year of preschool before starting primary school. The government has started providing more funding to recruit more educators and students, especially those that live in the rural areas of our country.

*New Zealand-Most children under five years of age, attend some type of early childhood education program in New Zealand. These children attend pre-school free of charge. Services are continuing to expand to meet the high numbers of children enrolled in these programs. Those that are not attending pre-school are mostly children from low-income families, indigenous children and migrant children. Grants have been developed to help children and families that fall into these specific categories.

2.What opportunities and/or requirements for professional development exist?

*Mexico-There are few regulations regarding requirements for levels of education pertaining to early childhood educators. Many of the teachers still do not have much formal education if any at all. The ratio of students to staff is very high and the salaries are low. There is a lack of professional development and/or training amongst the staff. Improvements have been made over the last few years regarding training and support for early childhood educators. However, it is still a weakly supported system.

*New Zealand-Early Childhood Educators receive salaries compared to those in the primary grades. Most of the teachers have at least a three-year degree. Professional development occurs on a regular basis-with continued training and support throughout the year. 

3.What are some of your professional goals?

* Mexico- I came back to Mexico to support my family until they are able to join me again in the United States. I love my home country of Mexico, but the opportunities are very small. The lack of funding and support in the school systems make it a day to day challenge. Many of my students will never make it past the primary grades. Most will quit school to help support their families.  My professional goals are to be the best influence as an educator, that I can to my current students. Hopefully, I am helping to encourage each one of them to continue on with their education in order to help their family and society in the future.   

*New Zealand-To retire in two years knowing I have helped instill a passion for learning to every child I worked with.

4.What are some of your professional hopes, dreams, and challenges? 

*Mexico- That the Mexican Governments will realize the key to a stronger more productive country starts with the children. Allowing more funding to be used for the early childhood programs and primary grades, would provide positve outcomes and a higher population of those who continue on to the secondary grades and beyond.

*New Zealand- All children in our country including migrants and the very poor would participate in the high-quality programs that are available to them. My hope and dream is that our Government would provide more funding for programs that provide resouces for these families to be educated more on the positive benefits early learning programs provide for their children. Challenges I foresee, are getting the migrant and low-income families to trust our school system enough to allow their children to participate in these free programs that provide such rich opportunities.