Main Article Content

Abstract

This research aims to examine the challenges faced by practitioners who maintain mobile Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) centers. Using a qualitative approach, ten practitioners from one organization that provides mobile ECCE in the Free State Province participated in this study. A semi-structured interview guide was used for data for this study. ATLAS.ti software was used to analyze qualitative data. The findings showed that the language barrier is one of the greatest challenges presented by mobile ECCE programs. Further, psychosocial challenges, such as the abuse of alcohol by parents and poverty as well as rain and wind, dust and cold are also challenges to practitioners. Therefore, these findings have strong policy implications for the need for ECCE policy frameworks to mitigate language barriers and psychosocial challenges in mobile ECCE centers by knowing the different home languages of the children.

Keywords

early childhood care and education mobile ECCE practitioners challenges ATLAS.ti software

Article Details

How to Cite
Ugwuanyi, C. S., & Okeke, C. C. (2024). Challenges encountered in maintaining mobile early childhood care and education centres: Practitioners’ perspectives. Aṭfālunā Journal of Islamic Early Childhood Education, 7(1), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.32505/atfaluna.v7i1.8086

References

  1. Abu Khudair, S., Khader, Y., Al Nsour, M., & Tanaka, E. (2024). The Provision of Psychosocial Support to Students in Jordan: Teachers' Knowledge, Attitudes, Skills, Practices, and Perceived Barriers. Journal of School Health.
  2. Adams-Gardner, M. G. (2018). Psychosocial barriers to participation in adult learning and education: Applying a PsychoSocial Interaction Model.
  3. Andrés Bolado, L. (2023). Breaking Language Barriers: Teachers’ Strategies for Supporting Immigrant Children with Limited Language Proficiency.
  4. Atmore, E. (2013). Early childhood development in South Africa - progress since the end of apartheid. International Journal of Early Years Education, 21(2–3), 152–162. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669760.2013.832941
  5. Bipath, K., Tebekana, J., & Venketsamy, R. (2021). Leadership in implementing inclusive education policy in early childhood education and care playrooms in South Africa. Education Sciences, 11(12). https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci11120815
  6. Black, M.M., Walker, S.P., Fernald, L.C.H., Andersen, C.T., DiGirolamo, A.M., Lu, C., et al. (2017). Early childhood development coming of age: science through the life course. Lancet, 389:77-90
  7. Britto, P.R., Lye, S.J., Proulx, K., Yousafzai, A.K., Matthews, S.G., Vaivada, T., et al. (2017). Nurturing care: promoting early childhood development. Lancet, 389:91-102.
  8. Chan, M. (2013). Linking child survival and child development for health, equity, and sustainable development. Lancet, 381:1514-5.
  9. Cohrssen, C., de Rosnay, M., Garvis, S., & Neilsen-Hewett, C. (2023). Assessing the quality of early childhood education and care in Australia: Challenges and opportunities. Frontiers in Education, 8(March), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2023.1147669
  10. Daniels, J., Medina-Marino, A., Glockner, K., Grew, E., Ngcelwane, N., & Kipp, A. (2021). Masculinity, resources, and retention in care: South African men's behaviors and experiences while engaged in TB care and treatment. Social Science & Medicine, 270, 113639.
  11. de la Porte, C., Larsen, T. P., & Lundqvist, Å. (2023). Still a poster child for social investment? Changing regulatory dynamics of early childhood education and care in Denmark and Sweden. Regulation and Governance, 17(3), 628–643. https://doi.org/10.1111/rego.12492
  12. Firouzan, V., Noroozi, M., Farajzadegan, Z., & Mirghafourvand, M. (2019). Barriers to men’s participation in perinatal care: A qualitative study in Iran. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 19(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-019-2201-2
  13. Gqoli, N., Okeke, C.I.O. & Ugwuanyi, C.S. (2021). Practitioner Conceptions of Mathematical Knowledge in Early Childhood Development. Proceedings of South African International Conference on Education (SAICED), 277-288. ISBN: 978-0-620-89546-0
  14. Gqoli, N., Okeke, C.I.O. & Ugwuanyi, C.S. (2023). Practitioners’ use of conceptions of mathematical knowledge to enhance early mathematics: A qualitative research approach. European Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 11(1), 123-131.
  15. Hannaway, D., Govender, P., Marais, P., & Meier, C. (2019). Growing Early Childhood Education Teachers in Rural Areas. Africa Education Review, 16(3), 36–53. https://doi.org/10.1080/18146627.2018.1445974
  16. Harrison, F., Goodman, A., van Sluijs, E. M., Andersen, L. B., Cardon, G., Davey, R., ... & ICAD collaborators LB Andersen S Anderssen G Cardon A Cooper R Davey U Ekelund DW Esliger K Froberg P Hallal KF Janz K Kordas S Kriemler A Page R Pate JJ Puder J Reilly J Salmon LB Sardinha LB Sherar A Timperio EMF van Sluijs. (2017). Weather and children’s physical activity; how and why do relationships vary between countries?. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 14, 1-13.
  17. Langa, M., & Leopeng, B. B. (2024). Emerging Alternative Young Black Masculinities in South Africa. In The Palgrave Handbook of African Men and Masculinities (pp. 161-173). Cham: Springer International Publishing.
  18. Lang, S. N., Tebben, E., Luckey, S. W., Hurns, K. M., Fox, E. G., Ford, D. Y., ... & Pasque, P. A. (2024). Early childhood teachers’ dispositions, knowledge, and skills related to diversity, inclusion, equity, and justice. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 67, 111-127.
  19. Machawira, P., & Shawa, R. (2024). From Boys to Men: The Role of Education in Shaping Positive Adolescent Masculinities in East and Southern Africa Region. In The Palgrave Handbook of African Men and Masculinities (pp. 845-862). Cham: Springer International Publishing.
  20. Malleus, E., Kikas, E., & Marken, T. (2017). Kindergarten and primary school children’s everyday, synthetic, and scientific concepts of clouds and rainfall. Research in Science Education, 47, 539-558.
  21. Maluleke, G., & Moyer, E. (2024). Fatherhood in Urban South Africa: The Making of the “Poor, Black man” as the Absentee Father in South African Media. In The Palgrave Handbook of African Men and Masculinities (pp. 955-974). Cham: Springer International Publishing.
  22. Mathwasa, J. (2018). Factors Hindering Men’s Capabilities to Actively Participate in the Early Social Development of Children: A Qualitative Approach. The Anthropologist, 32(1–3), 58–69. https://doi.org/10.31901/24566802.2018/32.1-3.2000
  23. Meier, C., Lemmer, E., & Niron, D. G. (2017). Problems and Prospects in Early Childhood Education Provisioning in Turkey and South Africa. Journal of Asian and African Studies, 52(4), 444–457. https://doi.org/10.1177/0021909615595989
  24. Mncanca, M., & Okeke, C. I. O. (2016). Positive Fatherhood: A Key Synergy for Functional Early Childhood Education in South Africa. Journal of Sociology and Social Anthropology, 7(4), 221–232. https://doi.org/10.1080/09766634.2016.11885720
  25. Mokhutso, J. (2021). A man's role as a head, a burden or a blessing? An exploration of the African and Christian perspectives on the conventional role of a male person. Pharos Journal of Theology, 102.
  26. Norheim, H., & Moser, T. (2020). Barriers and facilitators for partnerships between parents with immigrant backgrounds and professionals in ECEC: A review based on empirical research. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, 28(6), 789-805.
  27. Okeke, C. I. O. (2018). Crises impacting South African men’s participation in early socio-education development of children and possible useful interventions. South African Journal of Psychology, 48(4), 476–487. https://doi.org/10.1177/0081246317729572
  28. Okeke, C.I.O., Ugwuanyi, C.S., & Mufutua, M.A. (2020). Teachers' perceptions about engaging fathers in the early education of their children: A quantitative research approach. Proceedings of South African International Conference on Education (SAICED), 130-138. ISBN: 978-0-620-89546-0
  29. Pattnaik, J., & Lopez, M. (2023). Financial Challenges of Family Child Care Providers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Phenomenological Study. Early Childhood Education Journal, 0123456789. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-023-01477-9
  30. Pollitt, J., Blaise, M., & Rooney, T. (2021). Weather bodies: experimenting with dance improvisation in environmental education in the early years. Environmental Education Research, 27(8), 1141-1151.
  31. Skinner, M. L., Hong, S., Herrenkohl, T. I., Brown, E. C., Lee, J. O., & Jung, H. (2016). Longitudinal effects of early childhood maltreatment on co-occurring substance misuse and mental health problems in adulthood: the role of adolescent alcohol use and depression. Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs, 77(3), 464-472.
  32. St. Amant, H.G., Schrager, S.M., Peña-Ricardo, C. et al. (2018). Language Barriers Impact Access to Services for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. J Autism Dev Disord 48, 333–340. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-017-3330-y
  33. Steyn, M. G., Harris, T., & Hartell, C. G. (2014). Institutional factors that affect black South African students’ perceptions of Early Childhood Teacher Education. In South African Journal of Education (Vol. 34, Issue 3). http://www.sajournalofeducation.co.za
  34. Temiz, Z. (2022). Challenges and coping strategies for preschool teachers with children who cannot speak a majority language. International Journal of Early Years Education, 30(2), 276–289. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669760.2020.1777845
  35. Ugwuanyi, C.S., Mufutau, M.A., & Okeke, C.I.O. (2021). Perceptions of Parents and Teachers Regarding Policies Related to Fathers’ Engagement in Children’s Early Education. Asia-Pacific Journal of Research in Early Childhood Education, 15(2), 19-38 ISSN 1976-1961 http://dx.doi.org/10.17206/apjrece.2021.15.2.19 URL: file:///C:/Users/2019875836/Downloads/pecera_v15n2_02.pdf
  36. Ugwuanyi, C.S., Okeke, C.C. & Okeke, C.I.O. (2020). Intervention strategies that can improve South African fathers’ engagement in the early education of their children: A quantitative approach. Proceedings of the Multi-Disciplinary International Conference of Global Education Network in Collaboration with the University of Lome, Togo, 175-184. ISBN: 978-978-58196-2-5
  37. Van Manen, M. (2014). Phenomenology of Practice: Meaning-giving methods in phenomenological research and writing. Walnut Creek, CA: Left Coast Press.
  38. van Manen, M. (2017a). But is it phenomenology? Qualitative Health Research 27: 775-779.
  39. van Manen, M. (2017b). Phenomenology it its original sense. Qualitative Health Research 27: 810–825.
  40. van Manen, M. (2018). Rebuttal rejoinder: Present IPA for what it is—Interpretative psychological analysis. Qualitative Health Research 28: 1959–1968.
  41. van Manen, M. (2019). Rebuttal: Doing phenomenology on the things. Qualitative Health Research 29: 908-925.
  42. Visser, M., Grossmark, J., Krüger, S., Smith, C., van Zyl, M., Willemse, Z., & Wright, C. (2021). The Challenges Experienced by Practitioners from Under-Resourced Early Childhood Development Centres in South Africa: A Single Site Study. South African Journal of Occupational Therapy, 51(3). https://doi.org/10.17159/2310-3833/2021/vol51n3a3.
  43. Yu, K. (2017). Overcoming language barriers: lessons learnt from migrant children.