KINDERGARTEN EDUCATION

CHARMANE CRUZ DE GUZMAN

Kindergarten is a class for young children, usually between the ages four to six. It is often shortened to Kinder. Based on etymology of the word, it literally means “garden of children.” It was first coined by a German educator Friedrich Fröbel. Kindergarten is a terminology used in reference for his method of developing intelligence in young children.

In Fröbel’s Kindergarten method, he studies their individual natures, puts them into such circumstances which will enable them to grow, flower, and bring forth fruit. Although he is the inventor of Kindergarten, it was to Johannes Ronge, a German Catholic priest in America established the first Kindergarten in 1850 in England.

In the Philippines, during the Spanish regime until before K to 12 Curriculum was introduced Kindergarten education was not a part of the Basic Education System and was not compulsory. Nowadays, due to implementation of K to 12 curriculum in the country, Republic Act 10157, or “The Kindergarten Education Law”was born and made Kindergarten compulsory and mandatory entry stage to basic education. Moreover, specified in Section 2 of this Act that all five (5)-year old children shall be given equal opportunities for Kindergarten Education to effectively promote their physical, social, emotional and intellectual development, including values formation so they will be ready for school. This was so since the Department of Education (DepEd) believes that Kindergarten is the transition period from informal to formal literacy (Grades 1-12) considering that age five (5) is within the critical years where positive experiences must be nurtured to ascertain school readiness.

With this pace of education, kindergarten facilitates explorations of young learners in an engaging and creative curriculum that is developmentally appropriate which immerse them in meaningful experiences. Provision of varied play-based activities leads them to becoming emergent literates and, helps them to naturally acquire the competencies to develop holistically. Moreover, they are able to understand the world by exploring their environment as they are encouraged to create and discover, that eventually leads them to become willing risk takers and prepare to do formal school works.

— oOo—

The author is Teacher I at Pulong Palazan Elementary School