Project: Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Resource Centres in Indonesia

Aim:

To strengthen the capacity and sustainability of newly established ECCD Resource Centres in Plan program areas.

Region:

Surabaya, Ponorogo, Keffa, Dompu, Kupang, Sikka, Selayar, Jogyakarta, Lombok-Timor

Project Duration:

FY02 to FY10

Total Public Funds Required:

Thanks to our generous supporters, we have now raised the required funds or FY09.

Project Overview

The opportunity for pre-school is very limited in Indonesia and considered a luxury. Figures based on the year 2000 census indicated that only 4.5 million out of a population of 26 million children, or 17%, had access to early-age child services.  More specific data showed that 10.2 million children had not benefited from any form of Kindergarten at all, and that pre-school services were largely concentrated in urban areas to the detriment of children in rural villages.

The importance of Early Childhood Care & Development

Research has shown that what happens to a child, and the opportunities provided to a child in the first years are crucial in determining lifelong outcomes.  Plan’s Early Childhood Care and Development Project refers to the comprehensive range of policies and programs that are concerned with the physical, cognitive, social and emotional development of girls and boys from nought to eight years, and that strengthen the capacity of their parents and other caregivers to provide the care that they need.

Early years of age (0-8) are critical in the formation of intelligence, personality and social behaviour. Therefore attention to Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) is essential for children to survive, to be aware, to learn, and to be empowered.  The emphasis is on stimulating and interactive learning through singing, dance, games and play using appropriate locally sourced materials.

Project Aim

The primary aim of the project is to strengthen the capacity and sustainability of newly established ECCD Resource Centres in Plan program areas.

Building upon Plan Indonesia's extensive network of ECCD Centres (over 300 centres are now operating), the Resource Centres provide a forum for:

• training of ECCD teachers, volunteers, committees, health post workers and master trainers;
  
• development of training modules and materials;
  
• establishment of an ECCD Centre at the Resource Centre, where newly trained personnel can practice their skills and receive guidance; and
  
• the creation of a small library containing materials and information on ECCD.
  
  

Project Progress

This project works in close partnership with local district education authorities, in order to ensure their active participation, support and engagement in the project. In addition, Plan Indonesia works with the Ministry of Education and Directorate of Early Childhood Education, at the national level, in order to develop a joint process in the creation of learning materials and training resources.

Activities to date include:

• Establishment of ECCD resource centres
• Training programs ((ECCD, Community Learning Resources, Curriculum Training, Child Participation and Engagement, Home based ECCD, Nutrition and Child Health, Resource Centre Management)
• Establishment of Learning Centres – On-site pre-schools and ‘libraries’ for observation and training
• Development of nationally-approved modules on ECCD in partnership with Ministry of Education and UNICEF
• Wider project focus on equipping and furnishing of Resource Centres
  
  

This project is supported by a grant from AusAID, the Australian Government Agency for International Development and donations from the Australian public.

Photo Galleries

Indonesia Early Childhood Care & Development

In Indonesia Plan is helping to increase access to early childhood centres and the quality of their programs.

This album contains 8 photos.