Early childhood education (from 3 to 5 years) is crucial for the development of life-long learning. This program has been designed to help youth understand the concepts related to entrepreneurship and, Early Childhood Education and Development. It is aimed to provide him/her with skills to run an Early Childhood Development (ECD) center effectively. The course is aimed to enhance skills and knowledge of participants for working with young children (age group 3-5 years); provide exposure to child centred interactive learning methodologies, children assessment tools and daily lesson content, enabling them to create conducive physical and psychological environment and to involve parents and communities in children’s learning. The program will also enhance knowledge of the students on ECE National Curriculum to understand the process of achieving the objectives of teaching young children in ECD centers, using effective activities; and develop their understanding of the importance of family, particularly parents' involvement and to learn different ways to ensure parents’ participation in their children's learning process. The program also gives an orientation to students about cross cutting themes such as child rights, child protection, corporal punishment, inclusive education, child health and nutrition.

The courses will enhance knowledge and skills of the students about entrepreneurship in education. The courses are aimed at developing the attitude and skills of students about initiating and sustaining educational change within society using the entrepreneurial principles.  It would also add to understand the process of achieving the objectives of teaching-learning process in educational institutions through effective activities; and develop their understanding of the importance of stakeholder’s role in education.

The program will use an interactive approach involving the use of study guides, assignments, workshops, and presentations, preparation of action plan and business plan in workshops.

Objectives of the Program

The objectives of the program are to:

1. Train youth interested in pursuing their career in educational ventures across Pakistan 
2. Equip educational entrepreneurs with entrepreneurial skills to effectively work in educational set up.
3. Provide students with the knowledge, techniques and strategies to become qualified educational entrepreneur.
4. Give professional assistance to educational entrepreneurs in various fields of early childhood education as selected by them such as literacy and language development, pedagogical skills, educational assessment and school management.
5. Give professional recognition to ECD entrepreneurs.

Assessment

The assignments and the semester examination will serve as assessment components for each course.

Future prospects of the Program   

     After the completion of the certificate in ECE program, the successful participants will be able to open/run their own Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres in their areas. They would also be able to manage the educational venture due to competency in entrepreneurship and various areas of education. As the course involves ECD concepts and methodologies, they can also serve as ECE teachers or ECE specialist in Development sector or coordinator for ECE in schools.

Note: Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) reserves the right to amend the fee structure policy, course offering and assessment of courses when required. The existing course(s) will be adopted/ adapted as per requirement. The department may change the sequence of the course(s) offering as per availability of course(s).

For further information related to this program, please contact Dr. Mubeshera Tufail through email mubeshera.tufail@aiou.edu.pk