How quality early education can influence employability?

FOCUS Quality early education that helps one interested in learning can lead to successful outcomes as an adult

Employability usually refers to the ability to understand, process, perform and importantly think. Employees who reflect, reason and act, are an asset to any organization. They find solutions to problems and better techniques skilfully.progressive employment typically requires up-skilling (Ability to learn more) and re-skilling (Ability to adapt) especially in today’s age.

Experiential learning in the early years sets the foundation for just this. At a very early age, children are given the right tools, helping them investigate, practice and discover. They then use them innovatively to further their understanding. Research clearly indicates that when children are exposed to quality learning programs below the age of 6, it not only sets an academic/ intellectual foundation – it makes them thinkers, decision makers, self-learners, socially adept, enjoy challenges and resolve issues better. All of which are much-needed to make them employable.

MANY SCHOOLS INVEST IN TECHNOLOGY FOR HIGHER CLASSES TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES

THE CHALLENGE

In India, about 86% of 14 to 18 year olds study in the formal education system.

Of these about 25% cannot read basic text fluently in their own language and 50%struggle to solve division problems. About 55% of the 14 to 18 year olds can read English sentences, of them, 79% understand their meaning.

Quality early education leads to academic success in later years - Research tells us that a child’s level of math and language knowledge in preschool predicts their later academic success in primary, secondary and even high school. Early education sets a strong foundation in Math, and language and will help children advance easily to more complex problem solving.these children are likely to hence be “academically adept”.

Quality early childhood education can have a profound impact in making of a productive adult. A study by Nobel Laureate James Heckman found that participants in an early childhood program in Jamaica had 25% higher wages, 20 years later.adults, who have been exposed to quality early childhood education, will effectively

WHAT DOES A HEALTHY PROGRAMME INCLUDE?

The emphasis of our education system, especially, in early years needs to be on making learners interested in learning and making them “able to learn”. We need to move from “what to learn” to “how to learn” and “how to solve problems”. Both of these can be achieved far more easily in early years than during any other time in life. A healthy early education programme includes:

A vibrant environment with more stimulation and less interference

A curriculum that allows each child to explore and discover Practical learning primarily, followed by theoretical reinforcement

Teachers who are well trained on the curriculum, method and the tools

Assessment techniques that are objective and easy to translate

Many schools invest in technology and higher classes to improve outcomes. Some investment in a strong early education program can significantly change learning outcomes for life.

UN India says, “For RTE Act and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS) to be realised, it is essential children receive quality, early childhood education to lay the foundation for lifelong learning. Data indicates that slightly over 70% of children between the ages of 3 and 6 are attending pre-primary education.” More than one third of our children in India do not go to school in early years. When children enter primary school directly, without a quality preschool foundation, they are not school-ready, they find it difficult to learn and are more likely to drop out. Over one-third of children drop out before completing the full cycle of elementary education, majority from vulnerable and marginalised groups.

At 400 million, we have the largest child population in the world (below 14).

If we can give children the right early foundation, we are likely to be the most employable nation both in terms of quantity and quality a few years from now.