How Different Nations View Early Childhood and Primary Education Essay Example

talents and abilities at an early age. Evaluations in Nigeria mainly consist of written or reading tests that assess literacy skills. In contrast, the UK system adopts a more practical approach. Akahara. A.A. (2013) seeks to address these issues in Nigeria's education system and suggests possible improvements.

This research aims to examine education policies in developed countries, such as the United Kingdom, and developing countries like Nigeria. The focus is on comparing various aspects of education, including best practices, teaching quality, learning methods, assessment techniques, curriculum development, monitoring systems, pedagogical approaches, and leadership structures in both Nigeria and the UK. The main objective is to gain insights into bridging the existing education gap between these two countries. Additionally, this study seeks to raise public awareness about the similarities and differences in education between the UK and Nigeria while emphasizing the importance of collaboration among different stakeholders for improving young students' educational experiences.

This study is important because it ensures improvement in the quality of education and offers insights into the challenges faced by education systems in third world countries.

Importance of the Study

This study has various benefits for teachers, parents, governments, researchers, and academicians. It helps teachers understand the importance of early childhood education and its long-lasting impact on a child's future. Additionally, it assists them in comprehending how developed countries utilize effective learning approaches in early childhood education. Likewise, developed countries gain insight into the difficulties educators encounter in developing nations.

Parents, government officials, researchers, and academics all have a shared interest in improving early childhood education. Parents can learn strategies for balancing their child's studies between school and home to ensure a well-rounded education. The government can

gain insights on enhancing school curriculums to benefit children's learning experiences. In addition, researchers and academics in the field of teaching will be encouraged to conduct research on early childhood education in different countries, aiming to explore similarities and differences across nations. This study is particularly significant as education is increasingly recognized as a crucial factor for success worldwide. Even in developing nations where education was once disregarded, people now acknowledge the importance of providing quality education for their children.

Parents in developing countries face challenges in affording quality education for their children. This information will serve as an enlightening source, presenting ways to select educational institutions that offer excellent learning opportunities.

Contributing to Existing Research

The completion of this study enables individuals to identify disparities between early childhood and primary education in both countries. Educators can utilize these findings to enhance instructional practices within schools, benefiting students. Furthermore, this research serves as a valuable resource for governments in developing nations, offering insights on strengthening monitoring and evaluation processes for educational providers. This ensures younger generations are adequately prepared for the future.

The research will add to the existing body of research conducted by scholars from different perspectives, improving our understanding of current societal dynamics. It will provide a contemporary viewpoint on the subject matter, thus enhancing the extensive academic research that has already been done.

Research Methodology:
The methodology for this research will be descriptive in nature.

Studying subjects in their natural setting allows us to observe the system without causing disruption. This approach enables us to visit countries and gain an understanding of how education is provided to children, including who delivers it and when. It also helps us comprehend

the various factors that impact studies in different country settings. Laurel (2003) highlights the significance of capturing extensive details in research methodology, which aligns with my own goals.

The goal of the research is to examine children in early childhood education, their educators, and the government. To gather data from this large group, a random sampling technique will be used. This method ensures that any school in Nigeria or the UK has an equal chance of being chosen. A total of 30 schools will be selected, with an even distribution of 15 schools from each country. Given the time constraints and similarities in teaching methods within each country, this sample size is considered sufficient. Primary research methods such as interviews, questionnaires, and observation will be used to collect firsthand information.

The data will then be analyzed and presented in tables, charts, and graphs.

Academic Research Undertaken

Early childhood education is a topic of great importance in political and policy discussions. The demand for education, particularly in the early years, is increasing as it forms the basis for future learning. From an early age, people recognize the value of nurturing young minds in various fields such as science and art (Maynard T and Powell S, 2013). The goal of early childhood education is to provide the brain with knowledge that promotes individual initiative and societal contribution.

The Montessori education system, which originated more than 100 years ago, emphasizes involving children in physical activities, small scientific experiments, drawing, and creative expression (Boyd D, 2015). In the United Kingdom, educators encourage children to engage their senses through touch and smell as a way to promote learning. Communication is also emphasized with opportunities provided

for children to express their thoughts and actively listen. The study highlights the importance of play during early childhood for both enjoyment and learning at the same time. However, Nigeria's education system faces its own challenges.

In Nigeria, education during the colonial period was restricted to children of colonial leaders. However, recent research shows that there is now a greater recognition of the importance of education for children aged three to five years in the country. The National Policy for Integrated Early Childhood Development in Nigeria has established guidelines for education. Throughout time, the curriculum in Nigeria has changed to prioritize holistic child development rather than solely focusing on cognitive growth. This change allows children to express their creativity, which is similar to educational practices in the UK. These ongoing efforts aim to align the Nigerian education system more closely with that of the UK (Akahara).

A.A. 2013). Nigeria has faced challenges in the field of Early Childhood Education. The UK Curriculum mandates the training of educators in order to establish a strong foundation for the education system and develop well-rounded individuals. However, there has been an emergence of private teaching institutions in Nigeria that do not hire trained teachers.

The Ministry of Education is responsible for overseeing schools to ensure compliance, but this oversight does not occur. The government neglects to follow up with schools and fails to ensure that the established standards are followed (Akahara. A.A. 2013).

Government officials are conducting surprise visits to schools that are not following the rules, with the goal of correcting the situation and ensuring compliance. The importance of early childhood education cannot be overstated in both developed and developing nations. It

is crucial to provide high-quality education from an early age. Developed countries like the UK have more advanced educational systems, regulations, and curriculum compared to other countries. Therefore, it is necessary for these nations to adopt effective systems in order to achieve similar levels of progress. Educating and enlightening younger generations worldwide is vital for a sustainable future (Boyd D, 2015). (Akahara.

According to A.A. (2013), studies in Nigeria have emphasized the significance of educators embracing a hands-on and outcome-focused teaching approach, despite its limited implementation in the country. A.A. emphasizes the valuable impact that play can have on children's growth and development, asserting that it can be utilized to enhance their lives. The author also notes that through play, children can acquire community practices like cooking, physical activities, and creativity, which are more prevalent in the UK than in Nigeria. Consequently, children in the UK achieve developmental milestones at an earlier stage compared to their Nigerian counterparts.

Ethical Issues

The research will be conducted with the approval of a relevant body such as the University. Clearance to collect data will be obtained from the various authorities and people to be studied with their full consent or the consent of a guardian in the case where the children will be below the age of 18 years. Participants will be requested to give informed verbal or non-verbal consent to be interviewed. All collected information in this study will be treated confidentially.

References

1. Akahara, A.A.(2013). Pre-Primary Education in Nigeria. Indiana: Author House
2. Boyd D (2015). Understanding Early Years Education Across the UK: Comparing Practice in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Abingdon. Routledge

(2003). Design research.

The text includes two citations with corresponding information about the books. The first citation is from Cambridge, Mass. and is published by MIT Press. The second citation is from California and is published by SAGE. The books are titled "An Introduction to Early Childhood Studies" by Maynard T and Powell S (2013).