Effects of Educational Reforms and Policies on the Quality of Early Childhood Education: Teachers' Perspective

Abstract

The research aimed to assess how educational reforms and policies influence the quality of early childhood education. The study was descriptive in nature. All the teachers of public schools in Punjab were population of the study and data was collected from a sample of six hundred and sixty-five teachers using a questionnaire as a tool. The study revealed that awareness of early childhood education reforms and policies supported teachers in its implementation and ECE fostered a healthy learning atmosphere. Teachers encouraged activity-based learning and explored new effective learning concepts. Early childhood education played a role in decreasing student drop-out rates, teachers and caregivers received professional and in-service training. It was suggested that developing an appropriate framework for implementing various reforms and policies is crucial for improving quality of early childhood education. Measures should be taken to assure access of funding, resources, physical facilities and collaboration. Improvements to early childhood education program can only be succeeded if they are linked to ongoing research accompanied by constructive feedback.