EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION: A COMPARATIVE STUDY REGARDING ACCESS AND TEACHING AIDS IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS OF DISTRICT KARAK, PAKISTAN

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the Implementation status of Early Childhood Care and Education Policy Provisions of National Education Policy 2017 in Public and Private Schools of District Karak. Population of the study consisted of all the Public and Private Schools who run Pre-Primary Classes. Sample consisted of 320 Schools (200 Public Primary Schools and 120 Private Schools). The data was collected through close ended questionnaire which was prepared on the basis of Policy Provisions for Early Childhood Care and Education as given in Chapter 4 , para 6.3 in National Education Policy 2017. The questionnaire was responded on five point Likert Scale i.e., Strongly Disagree (SD), Disagree (D), Undecided (UN), Agree (A), Strongly Agree (SA). The questionnaire was divided into two parameters; namely, “Access to Pre-Primary Education”, and “Teaching aids for Pre-Primary Education”. Since responses were obtained in three categories only i.e., Disagree, Undecided, Agree, therefore it was analyzed on basis of Chi- square (χ2). It was found that the Parameter of, “Access to Pre Primary Education”, has been implemented in both the streams of the schools but Public schools have implemented it better as compared to Private schools. Whereas the parameters of “Teaching Aids for Pre-Primary Education” have been equally implemented in both Public and Private Schools. Major recommendations of the study are; (1); that a system may be devised whereby the tuition fee of the children of deserving parents may be paid by the Government directly to Private Schools; (2) Govt. may provide ICT facility to Public Schools and Private Schools may also be instructed to provide ICT facility to their students.

Keywords: Early Childhood Care & Education, Policy Provisions, National Educational Policy, Pre-Primary Education, Teaching Aids, Karak.