Power of the First Five Years
Early childhood Education
On the eve of the new century, education is an utmost important process in human cultivation to bring up and open the human mind in order to adjust to the ever-changing world. In the Thai education system, students learn passively and are fed information and knowledge, in the so-called "teacher-centered method" which is now obsolete under present circumstances. As the globalized world moves on, a learning-oriented environment is now offered through interaction whereby students' minds and brains are stimulated to learn. Students are not yet ready to adopt the dramatic changes of globalization in which one has to think, express ideas, make decisions and solve problems. Several countries have already changed to the student-centered method which concerns learning and conceptualization (brain development). Children have to learn happily as well as acquire skills development through the modern media, including raising creativity, developing personality, broadening horizons in addition to academic subjects. Further, the new method offers emotional cultivation and psycho social subjects.
Research has found that nothing is as wonderful as an infant's brain and each child's brain has its own potential. There are a billion cells in a new born baby's brain at birth.
Early childhood education between 0-5 years of age, is a most vital stage as it is fundamental to all ages of learning. The firmer the foundation, the higher a building may be built. If children's brains, during these years, are neglected, the chance for further development is slim. It is much more difficult to learn during the adult age, unless stimulated brain cell interaction has occurred during the earlier childhood age.
It is apparent that, Thai education fails to reach its goals because it underlines memorization from kindergarten all the way through to university level. Besides growing up physically, the child's brain and social development must also be catered to, for their future success. Merit instilled during the infant age influences behavior in later life. Criteria to be considered in a child's development to becoming and educated and well-adjusted adult in society include: raising by parents; father's role; disciplined upbringing; spoiling behavior; parent relationship; etc.
At school, children need to be happily cultivated. They learn naturally through routines, knowledge in transferred by demonstration. It is important for everyone to consider the proper process of learning. The absence of a sound education system may result in a nation's weakness, followed by an unfulfilled future.
According to studies made by the National Institute for Early Childhood Education, the Office of the National Education Commission (ONEC), three are educators and institutions offering new educational approaches of learning in childhood education in Thailand - the education innovation - to be applied in teaching a student-centered approach which involves an interaction-oriented classroom between children and children, and children and teacher. Children are taught to make plans, implement, revise and present ideas in groups and individually. The communications skills of the children are also developed.
Education researchers believe that learning through playing and feeling is active learning and is a significant factor in bringing out the potential of each child. The teacher's role has changed from teaching children directly, to that of arranging children within an atmosphere that stimulates them to learn, to encourage and evoke learning, while presenting opportunities to express and interconnect ideas and to observe children the way they are naturally.
The following approaches have been practiced in a number of Thai schools over the past 20 years.
- Neo-Humanist Education - founded by P.R. Sardar, eminent Yogi of India. Believes environment during childhood greatly influences intelligence and virtue of children. Children need to play as well as learn.
- Wardorf Education - developed by Rudolf Steiners, the Waldorf concept believes human-beings are able to reach their highest potential by themselves and are able to set their own goals in whatever they choose. Waldorf aims to achieve balanced personalities in children and his education techniques are also applied in the adult rehabilitation process.
- Montessori's Concept - the early stage, no teaching is performed. No information is programed. Montessori promotes growth naturally according to the child's development as it is and not as adults feel it should be.
- High/Scope Curriculum - originally introduced in 1962 to help under-privileged children. Children's routines are engaged with active learning, group learning in an interaction-oriented classroom. Children's achievements are considered through authentic assessment with results recorded in a Child Observation Record (COR).
- Reggio Emilia Approach - encourages the child's born abilities to be expressed to exhibit the child's own self. School atmosphere promotes the home and community.
- The Project Approach - derived from the Reggio Emilia approach, with emphasis on the principal of query, in which children try to find an answer, either through group participation or individually. The objective is the learning process, rather than getting the answer.
- Whole Language Approach - discovered with children's language learning problems. Most language learning's ineffectiveness is caused by excessive content. Traditional approaches overlook the power of learning through experience and real-life language.
- Metal - Science Learning - metal purposes simplify scientific knowledge which is transferred through interaction of the natural environment.
- Portfolio Assessment - a collection of children's learned matters. Student's successes are recorded such as the numbers and frequency of book reading, emotional development and changes in attitudes.
Child-Centered education enables children to learn happily, learn to think and learn what interests them. Therefore, the above approaches need to be adopted in early childhood education in Thailand to be in line with the National Education Act B.E. 2542 which promotes life-long education. Schools, parents and communities are crucial supporters of the child's development. When children between 0-5 years are appropriately educated, the power of the first five years provides the strength to enable the children to become high-calibre adults in the future.

THE NATION: Wednesday 16th, February 2000