Abstract
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This study assessed the implementation of the minimum standard of the programme of early child care centres in Central Senatorial District in Cross River State. To carry out the study, eight research questions were answered by the study while eight null hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. The study adopted descriptive survey research design in sampling the opinions of the care givers. The target population of the study consists of all the 286 Caregivers in early child care centres in Central Senatorial District of Cross River State. Due to the manageable size of the population, the entire 286 caregivers were involved; hence, there was no sampling. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire titled: Minimum Standard for Early Childhood Care Questionnaire (MSECCQ). The instrument was validated by three experts from the faculty of Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Comments of the validates were incorporated into the final draft of the instrument for data collection. In order to determine the internal consistency and stability of the instrument, Cronbach Alpha reliability method was used and Cronbach Alpha reliability coefficient of 0.76 was obtained for the instrument. The data collection for the study was carried out by the researcher with the assistance of two trained research assistants. The data collected were analyzed using mean for answering the research questions while t-test statistics was used to test the null hypothesis formulated at 0.05 level of significance and at 281 degree of freedom. From the data analyzed, the study found out that, the minimum standard for early child care centres in Cross River State is to a little extent practiced. Based on the findings that emanated from the study, the study recommended that the government should map out strategies for effective implementation of the minimum standard of early child care centres in the state and that the government of the state should always make provision for all the required facilities for effective implementation of the minimum standard of the early child care centres in the State among others.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
The value and importance of a child can never be overemphasised. The child serves as source of joy and happiness to parents and he is naturally being embraced by all. At birth, the child is helpless and totally dependent for all his needs which start from conception. For the child to survive and develop, someone has to nurture and care for him. The child depends on his parents and other caregivers who ensure that the child survives and develops through good care. Care results in the creation of an enabling environment which can support the child’s optimal development. It includes what adults are able to provide in the child’s life, such as appropriate modelling, stimulation, protection and time, which are all components of respect for the child’s rights (Evans, Myers, and Lifeld, 2000). Conversely, neglected children are prone to sickness and malnutrition and are less equipped and motivated to learn. Evans, et, al (2000) posited that a child with consistent caring attention is generally better nourished, less likely to be sick and learn better than a child who does not receive such. Survival, development, participation and protection are the four broadly recognised rights of every child at its early childhood period.
Early childhood period is a sensitive stage. It is a period of 0 to 8 years of age (UNICEF, 2004). In the view of Maduewesi (1990) children within the range of 0 – 8 years are those under early childhood care age. It is the time in the child’s life that needs appropriate and quality care for growth, development and survival. It is the foundation of the world’s future and must be given highest priority. The young child at this period needs to be helped to develop properly so as to become a useful and functional member of the society. It is a unique, precious and critical period for effective development of the child.
The period of early childhood requires special care practices for the child for good physical and psychological development of the child. Early childhood care practices are among the cultural practices that are as old as the genesis of man. According to Berger (2005), early childhood care practice has been a part of every society throughout history, only it varies considerably from country to country and from one social group to another. Proper early childhood care practices are very essential to every society that aspires to raise healthy children. This is because it encompasses such aspects as feeding, bathing, clothing, shelter, toilet training, medical care, supervision, among others. It involves engaging the child in social interaction, providing stimulating and safe environment for play and exploration (UNICEF, 1996). Ibetoh (2005) states that early childhood care practices are an integrated holistic approach with a right perspective to ensure proper child care leading to the survival, maximum development and protection of young children. It involves the caregivers support to a child and ensures that his needs are satisfied. Early childhood care practices, consequently, are important issues in child development as the safety of the child depends on the environment which, of course, is mostly dependent on the quality of care given by caregivers.
A caregiver is anyone who cares for a child whether on a long term or short-term basis (Evans, et al, 2000). Parents, foster parents, family members, baby sitters, and child care workers can be considered caregivers. The term parents and caregivers are being used interchangeably. However, the focus is on those who have primary responsibility for caring for a child, in most cases the parents because they know most of the child care services than any other person.
Childcare services are provisions made to improve optimal growth and development in childhood through disease prevention, good health, food and nutrition. This is because successful societies safeguard their future by continually striving to improve the wellbeing of their children. This suggests that child care is the right of every child and must not be denied for any reason (Turman, 2003). In recognition of the important role of children, their vulnerability and right to optimal development and support are clearly stipulated. Evans et al (2000) stated that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child specified that:
- All children without distinction of gender, race, language, religion or of any other kind should have the opportunity to develop to full potential.
- Children, by reason of their physical and mental vulnerability, need special safeguards and care.
- Children living in difficult circumstances need special consideration.
- Parent and families men as well as women, have the primary responsibility for the upbringing, development and education of their children.
- Government should establish a policy environment that ensures families and communities fulfil their responsibilities of child caring and protection.
The minimum standard for early childhood care is broadly organised in four clusters namely; structures, content, practices and monitoring and evaluation. The major interest of this research study is practices. This is because, the overall physical and psychological development of a child is anchored on good child care practices by care givers.
Practices are actions, behaviours expected of care givers in care giving centres. These practices are: exclusive breast feeding (EBF), deworming, micro-nutrients supplementation, complementary feeding, growth monitoring, and immunization/disease prevention, Water and Environmental Sanitation (WES) and psychosocial Development. Assurance of the child’s good and quality care rests on feeding. Feeding is one of the most important aspects of child care practices. By nature, babies are fed on breast milk by their mothers. Perhaps, that is why UNICEF remarks that breast feeding is the cornerstone for child care practices. However, in certain condition, the baby is fed on artificial milk but breast milk remains the best for a child. Breastfeeding (exclusive) should be from 0-6 months to two years. It is based on this that the minimum standards recommended that:
- There should be expressed breast milk in centres where there are children below 6 months.
- The Provision of complementary feeding, in addition to breast milk for the 6 months to 2 year old child.
- Provision of good amount of micronutrients, especially vitamin A and iron in a child’s diet, helps in all round development.
Evans, et al (2000) points out that the indicators of a child’s status fall into three main categories: survival, growth and nutrition, and is associated with child development and social achievement. With increase in industrialization and employments in Nigeria, some parents have to send their children to such centres where these children will be taken care of while their parents are at work, and where they would learn in preparation for entering the primary school. This is because it is believed by psychologists that conceptual learning starts at the early stage and it sets interests, curiosity and habit patterns of individual child. It also contributes a lot to the personality of the child in later years; therefore, learning begins at birth. In accordance with the above, the Federal Government of Nigeria (FRN, 2004) stated in National Policy on Education that there should be centres in existing public schools and encourages both community/private efforts in the provision of pre-primary education.
In support to the above, Nigeria also has developed a number of policies, education, health, food and nutrition among others, aimed at improving the status of young children. The integrated approach to early childhood care and development is expected to improve the care and support given to young children at the community level, thereby giving every Nigerian child a good head start in life. The aim of the Integrated Early Child Development Policy is to integrate intervention from the various sectors and the Child’s Rights Act in providing care and support that will ensure the rights of the child to good nutrition and health, healthy and safe environment, psycho-social stimulation, protection and participation. In addition, it is to provide adequate care and supervision for children while their parents/guardians are at work. This is in line with the main thrust of this study which intends to assess the implementation of minimum standards in early childhood care centres.
Assessment is therefore viewed as the process of observing, recording and collecting of data for the purpose of making decisions (Salvia & Yssldyke, 1995). At the moment, the aspect of care practices which tend to receive attention or assess exclusive breastfeeding, deworming, micronutrient supplementation, complementary feeding, growth monitoring and promotion, immunization and psychosocial development based on the minimum standard.
Instructions on early childhood care practices may help to expose some blind spots (ignored areas) in early childhood practices in centres. Blind sports refer to all the issues, constraints, obstacles, and ignored or grey areas militating against the effective actualization of the goals and objectives of early childhood practices in centres (Ibiam, 2011). These will help care givers to be aware of the practices such as good nutrition and sound health management practices that will provide a holistic development which is fundamental to human life, which will play an essential role in the life of the child later in life. Luther (2003) observes that nutrition in early years of life which are critical formative years have both immediate and long-term consequences. He further notes that half of all child deaths in Africa are associated with malnutrition and has direct impact on labour productivity. This therefore means that when a child is not well fed, the entire development will be affected, and it also affects the society he or she belongs to. So, there is always a direct relationship between the type of diet one consumes and health condition.
Health is a complex phenomenon. It is beyond mere absence of sickness. According to Otebulu (2010), it is total wellbeing both physically, mentally, socially and emotionally among others. Health is recognised as a basic human right. Health care system is particularly important for the young child. It can help ensure the child’s survival through the provision of immunisation/ disease prevention, through growth monitoring and deworming. In addition, proper hand washing, though a simple act, is definitely the best way to cut down on the spread of illness in a childcare setting. Also, attention to the child’s emotion and physical development provides a solid foundation for good health and development. If we miss opportunities to promote healthy development, later interventions may be more difficult and expensive and may be ineffective.
