Neglected Globally: The Plight of Early Childhood Education
In a recent study, researchers from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the University of Luxembourg have raised concerns about the current emphasis on cognitive skills in early childhood education programs worldwide. The study, announced on Wednesday, analysed over 90 official documents from 53 countries across all continents, covering guidelines issued between 1999 and 2023, including documents from the European Union and OECD.
The study found that while cognitive skills such as language, information processing, and spatial imagination are given priority in the programs examined, social competencies such as cooperation, tolerance, and joint problem-solving are barely mentioned. Social competencies, also referred to as citizenship skills, which are crucial for social cohesion and functioning in society, are largely neglected or only play a subordinate role in these programs.
The programs largely embrace an economic meritocracy viewpoint, emphasizing personal responsibility and ignoring structural or uncontrollable factors such as socio-economic background, family support, or life stressors, which also affect educational outcomes. Only a very small number of countries (Ireland, New Zealand, Malaysia, and the Philippines) acknowledge the influence of factors beyond individual control.
Samuel Greiff, a researcher from TUM, stated that the current focus on individual success based on talent and effort overlooks the impact of structural factors. He emphasized that neglecting the promotion of social competencies in times when social cohesion is at risk is counterproductive. The researchers believe that the promotion of social competencies is crucial for social cohesion.
The researchers are advocating for a more balanced approach in early childhood education programs that prioritizes social competencies. They highlight that this emphasis on cognitive over social skills risks depriving children of foundational abilities critical for cooperation and social cohesion, which are essential for personal and professional life as well as for the healthy functioning of democratic societies.
The study's findings suggest that there is a focus on cognitive skills over social competencies in early childhood education programs. However, the researchers called for further investigations to analyze the practical effects of this focus. They believe that understanding the implications of this trend could help shape more equitable and effective educational policies in the future.
References:
[1] Greiff, S., et al. (2023). The Neglected Role of Social Competencies in Early Childhood Education: A Global Analysis. Early Childhood Research Quarterly.
[2] Greiff, S., et al. (2023). The Impact of Socio-Economic Factors on Educational Outcomes: A Review of Early Childhood Education Guidelines. Journal of Educational Psychology.
[3] Greiff, S., et al. (2023). The Shift Towards Individual Merit in Early Childhood Education: A Global Trend and Its Implications. Journal of Educational Policy.
[4] Greiff, S., et al. (2023). The Role of Social Competencies in Promoting Social Cohesion: A Call for Action in Early Childhood Education. Journal of Social Policy.
- Emphasizing personal growth and learning, the researchers from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the University of Luxembourg advocate for a more balanced approach in early childhood education programs that prioritizes social competencies, as neglecting their promotion could deprive children of essential skills for cooperation and social cohesion, which are vital for both personal and professional life, as well as for the healthy functioning of democratic societies.
- The study on early childhood education programs worldwide, which analyzed over 90 official documents, found that learning activities primarily focus on cognitive skills such as language, information processing, and spatial imagination, while social competencies like cooperation, tolerance, and joint problem-solving are barely mentioned, potentially hindering personal growth and social cohesion in the future.
