The phase of early childhood education plays a crucial role in the building blocks of any learning that a child would engage in for the rest of their life. The Department of Education (DepEd) has set out standards and regulations that seek to ensure that kindergarten programs focus on creating a conducive and healthy environment suitable for children’s needs. Kindergarten School in Pasig have begun to pay more attention to the delivery of education to meet the DepEd standards. This article examines the quality standards that DepEd met by kindergarten schools in Pasig concerning curriculum requirements, teacher recruitment and selection, learning facilities, and health and safety aspects.
Setting a Foundation for Lifelong Learning
The standards set by the Department of Education for kindergarten-level education are aimed at providing children with a solid basic education that will promote their physical, social, and intellectual growth. Hence the Department of Education advocates for the provision of basic education to preschool children aimed at inculcating such issues as teaching strategies, curricula, and school facilities.
In this case, children are in readiness for education in a formal school system. In this way, adhering to these requirements helps to affirm that kindergarten schools are managing to instill in the children not only academic knowledge but also social interaction skills.
Ensuring Quality and Consistency Across Schools
The Department of Education standards provide uniformity in the educational development of the country and enable schools to follow the same system of teaching and learning outcomes. The kindergarten schools in Pasig may ease the parents’ concerns who are worried whether or not their kids study up to the national standard because they have achieved the standards. This uniformity of standards is particularly important in a city like Pasig, where parents have a wide range of schooling choices available to them and need help in selecting quality schools for their children.
DepEd Standards for Kindergarten Schools
Curriculum Requirements
The DepEd has created a kindergarten program that is appropriate to the age of the children, encourages play, and facilitates hands-on experiences. The framework within which this program, called Kindergarten Curriculum Guide, is developed is based on the five domains of development – Physical Health and Motor Development, Social – Emotional Development, Language, Literacy, and Communication, Cognitive Development, and Values Education.
Observing the standards provided by DepEd, kindergarten schools in Pasig incorporate these domains of learning into their day-to-day activities so that their learning is both fun and educational. Activities are purposely structured in such a way that they are interest-capturing, practical, and engaging so that the children can learn through play. Schools advocate for the development of language and communication by helping children interact with each other as this is key in developing basic literacy skills. Teachers also include values education in their teaching to instill respect, empathy, and cooperation.
Qualified and Trained Teachers
According to the standards set by the (DepEd), kindergarten teachers need to undergo sufficient training and education that would qualify them to teach young children. Members of DepEd’s workforce must hold at least a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, or any degree related to these fields, and a teaching license in the Philippines, to be employed as kindergarten teachers. In addition, DepEd promotes lifelong learning, in this case, advancement through classwork, and training on the latest trends in teaching and learning is also expected of the teachers.
The kindergarten institutions within the vicinity of Pasig comply with these standards by employing competent teachers who are adept at handling young children. In this way, they take part in modern pedagogical ideas and practices by attending workshops, training sessions, and seminars organized either by DepEd or other educational organizations. It is important to note, however, that training of the teachers is not merely an enhancement of the quality of the instruction, it also provides a safe place and a conducive environment for the children.
Safe and Child-Friendly Facilities
The standards of the Department of Education stressed the importance of child-friendly and secure environments in kindergarten schools in order to enhance their learning experience. Such environments comprise rooms that are large enough, airy, and devoid of any risk. Schools are being advised to offer developmentally suitable institutions, stocks, and equipment used for different purposes such as art, story, and even active play.
In Pasig, to enable kindergarten school students, teachers, and school managers all toil hard to come up with classrooms that fulfill the needs of children. Classrooms are often fitted with furniture that is colorful and easy to clean. Learning materials in all education settings are varied and within reach of all children. Outdoor areas, if any, allow for active play, which is important for the development of a child’s motor skills. Play areas, too, are constructed under regulations, featuring secure apparatus and cushioned materials to reduce the chances of injuries.
Health and Hygiene Standards
Health and hygiene aspects are big concerns, especially for young children who are prone to get sick easily. In this regard, schools are also expected to observe and implement cleanliness protocols including but not limited to regular cleaning of all classes, restrooms, and bathrooms. Furthermore, DepEd requires kindergartens to install handwashing facilities that have clean water and soap, as well as teach the children hygiene practices.
A great number of kindergarten schools in Pasig have put in place measures that protect their students. Teachers and different members of staff practice good hygiene which includes showing children the proper way of washing their hands and encouraging them to observe personal hygiene. Personally focused on the parents, schools also conducted regular health assessments, reviewing students for active disease symptoms. This perspective on health that is preventative guarantees that the environment in which children learn is safe and supports their health and well-being.
Parent Involvement and Support
Time and again, the Department of Education has reiterated the need for parents to partake in their children’s learning. Parents’ support not only enhances a child’s growth but also helps in bridging the gap between home and school. Kindergartens in Pasig meet these expectations by encouraging parent communication, informing parents about their children’s progress, and allowing parents to take part in scholastic activities.
Certain educational institutions conduct orientation, workshops, or family events for a better understanding of the curriculum by parents and thus help in the learning of their children at home. Furthermore, a majority of the schools also incorporate technology in the form of messaging services or web-based applications to keep parents engaged and updated on the forthcoming activities and the progress of their children.
Key Takeaway
In ensuring quality education for young learners in Pasig, kindergarten schools strictly adhere to the standards of the Department of Education. Thus, these schools are guided by the DepEd provisions on curriculum, teacher qualifications, facilities, and health protocols which offer adequate preparation for children’s future education.
Parents in search of quality early childhood education in Pasig can take comfort in the fact that they can select a kindergarten school that meets DepEd standards. Such standards will assure parents that their children will have the best possible start in their education.
