Challenges in Early Childhood Care and Education during the Era of Covid-19: Insights from ECCE Stakeholders for Preschools in selected Rural Areas – Botswana

International Journal of Humanities and Social Science

© 2022 by SSRG - IJHSS Journal

Volume 9 Issue 6

Year of Publication : 2022

Authors : Tapologo Maundeni, Grace Seetso, Nthalivi Silo, Poloko Ntshwarang

10.14445/23942703/IJHSS-V9I6P105

How to Cite?

Tapologo Maundeni, Grace Seetso, Nthalivi Silo, Poloko Ntshwarang, "Challenges in Early Childhood Care and Education during the Era of Covid-19: Insights from ECCE Stakeholders for Preschools in selected Rural Areas – Botswana," SSRG International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, vol. 9,  no. 6, pp. 24-31, 2022. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/23942703/IJHSS-V9I6P105

Abstract:

Global pandemics, such as COVID-19, tend to affect different sectors, and the education sector in Botswana has not been spared from the effects. While all levels and types of education are facing serious challenges, the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) sector is one of the most vulnerable sectors and is prone to have a bigger impact given that more than 95% of ECCE centers for children below five years in the country are privately funded and operated. Based on a qualitative study of experiences of ECCE providers in selected preschools in two villages situated in the Kweneng and Kgatleng districts of Botswana, the paper discusses challenges encountered by the ECCE centers during COVID-19 as well as the coping strategies that were used at that time. Some of the challenges that respondents reported included: the temporary shutdown of the school; declining enrolment; sporadic school fee payments; staff’s fears of infection, limited essential supplies; limited opportunities to meet parents physically maintaining sanitary environments, and children’s inability to wear masks properly. Several coping mechanisms were used, but most of them were ineffective. The paper concludes by discussing implications for practice and policy

Keywords:

Curriculum, Early childhood education, Health and safety, Pandemic, Policy.

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