Increasing Access to Early Childhood Education in Honduras: The Universalization Plan for Pre-Basic Education
Executive Summary
The Ministry of Education in Honduras aims to increase access to education for children aged three to six years who are currently not enrolled in Pre-Basic Education. To achieve this, a Universalization Plan has been implemented, offering different modalities of care, including Pre-Basic Education Centers (CEPB), Community Pre-Basic Education Centers (CCEPREB), and Home Education (EDUCAS). Currently, educational activities focus on motor development, communication, cognition, socio-emotional education, and physical education. However, challenges such as flexible modalities of care, adequate facilities, specialized staff, and promotion requirements need to be addressed. By addressing these challenges, the goal is to improve access, retention, and progression to subsequent grades.
Implementation
The Ministry of Education embarked on an ambitious plan to increase access to Pre-Basic Education through flexible and cost-effective modalities. Strategies were adapted based on the number of children of pre-basic education age in each locality. In densely populated areas, the key mechanism to expand Pre-Basic Education coverage has been to increase the number of teachers in Pre-Basic Education Centers (CEPB) through flexible contracts with short and unstable terms and low monthly remuneration. In less populated areas, Community Pre-Basic Education Centers (CCEPREB) have been created and operated by educators who receive even lower compensation than CEPB teachers under the flexible contract arrangement. In areas with even more dispersed population, the EDUCAS (Home Education) programme is carried out by a volunteer mother, father, or guardian at their own home.Since its launch in 2014, the Universalization Plan for Pre-Basic Education by the Ministry of Education has increased access to Pre-Basic Education for children aged 5 to 6.
Stakeholders and partners involved
The Universalization Plan is implemented nationwide through the Ministry of Education, involving departmental authorities, teachers, educators, and community forces since 2014. It collaborates with various institutions, utilizing loans and donations. The plan includes teacher training, meals, repairs, and construction of educational centers.
Impact
The implementation of the Universalization Plan has resulted in an increased enrollment of children aged 3 to 6 years (180,240 as of September 2022) and strengthened teachers and educators with innovative methodologies. The community has also been empowered about the importance of Pre-Basic Education. In addition, the following has been achieved: 1) Policies are articulated with governmental and non-governmental institutions that serve early childhood (0 to 6 years) through public policy; 2) Streamlined management processes ensure quick delivery of benefits to students; 3) The Secretariat of Education´s decentralized level coordinates with institutions to provide or supervise educational processes; 4) Impact on children.
Innovations
Empowering Early Childhood Education through Institutional, Economic, and Environmental Actions
Institutional actions: Implementing policies, designing flexible curriculum, ensuring equitable salaries for teachers, and providing training.
Economic actions: Allocating budget for materials, maintenance, sustainability, and fair teacher compensation.
Environmental actions: Creating child-centered, inclusive, and sustainable physical environments for smooth education transition.
Constraints
Increase budget for Pre-Basic Education to cover demand for materials, equipped centers, and well-compensated teachers. Partnerships with Fundación Ficohsa, FEREMA, OEI, and BANADESA address these challenges.
Pre-Basic Education Is Key for Equitable Development
Pre-Basic Education is vital for improving children´s future performance and reducing inequalities between rich and poor households. Interinstitutional coordination promotes joint initiatives to strengthen and enhance the quality and inclusive access of Pre-Basic Education. Government support is crucial for educational reform.