Addressing early childhood development and nutrition is a crucial step in CSRL’s Theory of Change to ending hunger. With your help, the Iowa State University-Uganda Program in partnership with schools in the Kamuli district will make quality early childhood development available.
Appropriate teacher-child ratios are one of the main aspects of a high-quality early childhood program. Currently in Uganda (if early childhood education is available at all) the average pupil-to-teacher ratio is 22.03 to 1. [UNESCO, indexmundi.com]. In Kamuli, one teacher may have from 35 – 75 or more preschool children in a single class!
Lower class sizes and smaller teacher-child ratios have been shown to improve child outcomes. ChildCare.gov states there should be no more than 12–20 preschoolers in a group or classroom, 1 trained adult should not care for more than 6–10 preschoolers, and 2 trained adults should always be present in a full group of 12–20.
It’s a common misperception that early childhood education is only about learning basic skills, but it’s so much more than that. It’s a time when children learn critical social and emotional skills and a partnership is formed between the child, their parents, and the teacher. When this is done successfully, it lays the groundwork for it to continue throughout the child’s education. [J. Alvarado, nu.edu]
Every contribution and message shared makes a difference! A gift of $60 provides a month’s wage for one teacher’s assistant. Be part of the first $12,500 contributed and your donation will be doubled!