Early Childhood Care And Education: A Comparative Study Regarding Access and Physical Facilities in Public and Private Schools of District Karak, Pakistan

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the Implementation status of Early Childhood Care and Education Policy Provisions of National Education Policy 2017 in Public and Private Schools of District Karak. Population of the study consisted of all the Public and Private Schools who run Pre-Primary Classes. Sample consisted of 320 Schools (200 Public Primary Schools and 120 Private Schools). The data was collected through close ended questionnaire which was prepared on the basis of Policy Provisions for Early Childhood Care and Education as given in Chapter 4, para 6.3 in National Education Policy 2017. The questionnaire was responded on five point Likert Scale i.e., Strongly Disagree (SD), Disagree (D), Undecided (UN), Agree (A)2, Strongly Agree (SA). The questionnaire was divided into two parameters; namely, “Access to Pre-Primary Education”, and “Physical Facilities for Pre-Primary Education”. Major recommendations of the study are; (1) short in-service training for ECCE teachers may be arranged in both Public and Private schools; (2) financial assistance may be given to the Private Schools.; (3) teacher may be provided to schools on the basis of classes; (4) Ayya may be provided to each Public School in the light of the Policy Provisions of NEP 2017; (5) fee of the children of deserving parents may be paid by the Government directly to Private Schools.

Keywords: Early Childhood Care & Education, Policy Provisions, National Educational Policy, Personality Development, Pre-Primary Children, Karak.