The first year of school: Playing and learning
In order to have a good start in school, children must first learn through playing. That is the spirit of the newly created first year of basic education. UNICEF’s goal is that in 2007 no child will be denied the first year of basic education. UNICEF is creating a path in which Ecuadorian institutions will be able to guarantee ten years of education to their children. In 2005, with the technical help of UNICEF, the Ministry of Education and other Ecuadorian institutions, the number of children attending the first year of education raised by 31.800.
With the civic pressures created by UNICEF the Social Contract for Education (a citizen watch group), the Minister of Education hired 1.300 preschool teachers, trained them, and distributed educational materials to 30.000 children in 2005. Thanks to the two million dollars assigned in the State budget, the universalization of the first year of basic education has started. UNICEF contributed to the pedagogical design of the textbooks for the first year.They were created keeping in mind the needs of teachers in rural zones and those of community mothers who are trained as teachers, so children can complete their first year at home or in school. Year by year, more and more children will have a good start in school.
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