Abu-Ghazaleh: Early childhood is one of the most important stages of human life

AMMAN – CARE International Organization – Jordan has concluded the ‘Early Childhood Development’ program, jointly organized with the Arab Organization for Quality Assurance in Education (AROQA) and  funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad).

The training program seeks to assist women who have children in getting high-quality daycare to help them overcome one of the biggest obstacles that prevent them from seeking job opportunities; especially in the four targeted Jordanian governorates (Karak, At-Tafilah, Amman and Irbid).

Primarily, the program focuses on potential community-based organizations (CBOs), evaluating and identifying capacity gaps among daycare providers, in addition to improving the caregivers' skills and capacities.

Commenting on this event, HE Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, AROQA chairman, stated that early childhood is one of the most important stages of human life, as nurseries and kindergartens serve as a bridge that helps children’s transition to the primary school stage. He reiterated that; in this critical stage, children learn skills of communication, discovery and they learn how to build friendship, through a dynamic setting that fosters their aspirations and satisfies their curiosity and passion for learning.

Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh expressed his pride in CARE’s interest in early childhood stage and its institutions,  due to its importance especially in light of the urgent need to develop education by specialists and experts in this specific stage of children’s life.

The training program, which was delivered by a group of early childhood experts, focused on knowledge and skills of daycare providers in early childhood development, combating gender-based violence, in addition to reviewing the regulations and rules for nurseries and kindergartens.

Participants commended the level of training and topics discussed, affirming that the program keeps pace with professional, practical and scientific developments, in order to build a better future for the future generations in accordance with the highest standards, and in line with the development of the world of knowledge. They further thanked CARE Organization and AROQA for their efforts in improving quality services of nurseries and kindergartens by building the capacity of daycare providers.

The program included training on early childhood care using the Montessori Approach presented by CARE International (Jordan) cadres, as well as the role of parents in children's learning. This is in addition to the TEAM Approach that aims to familiarize participants with the Montessori Approach to Early Childhood Education, the stages of child development at the  nursery and the kindergarten, as well as their basic needs, in addition to identifying the Montessori educational tools, and the acquisition  of skills related to working with children in accordance with the Montessori Approach.

The participants also discussed the Science, the technology, the engineering, the art, and the math (STEAM) Method, which aims to develop science integration skills in children teaching, in addition to recognizing the interactive ground communication and its relationship  to 5G.

AROQA expressed gratitude to CARE International – Jordan for entrusting it with the implementation of its serial project on sustainable development entitled ‘Identification of community-based institutions with day-care facilities, early childhood development programs and capacity-building training for individuals working in community-based organizations’. The project endeavors to develop a study based on data collection and analysis, with the aim of identifying  gaps between organizations providing early childhood care and caregivers.

CARE International – Jordan was founded in 1948 in response to the Palestinian Nakba by providing food and non–food items. Since that date, the Organization continues its work in responding to humanitarian crises and providing assistance to local communities and refugees (starting from the Iraqi crisis, the Syrian refugee crisis, till today). The Organization also contributes to protecting the vulnerable, the underprivileged and the marginalized people by improving their lives (women, marginalized groups in society, refugees, youth (male and female), and children at risk).

The scope of CARE work has developed from emergency response to long-term economic empowerment programs, which include  interventions in urban areas, host communities and the Azraq refugee camp.

The Arab Organization for Quality Assurance in Education (AROQA) is an international non-profit independent organization established in 2007 in Belgium for the purpose of raising education levels in general with special focus on to the Arab region, under the chairmanship of HE Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh.