Early Childhood Equity Education Project at Walailak University: Bridging Educational Disparities through Quality Curriculum and Collaboration
Walailak University organizes educational outreach activities beyond campus in local schools and communities to promote and support learning, elevating the capabilities of schools in the area and the surrounding community. Several programs have been continually implemented under clear work plans, and ad-hoc activities. Collaboration among internal and external departments of the university to disseminate knowledge to the target areasfostering development that aligns with sustainable development goals.
The Early Childhood Equity Education Project (ECEEP) at Walailak University aims to enhance the abilities and reduce educational disparities among early childhood in the local community through high-quality curricula and research that inform national early childhood education policies. It serves as a foundation to ensure equal access to inclusive and equitable quality education. It also provides boys and girls with access to quality pre-primary care and education to ensure that they are prepared for primary education by the year 2030. The ECEEP project takes part in driving the Sustainable Development Goals for Walailak University and various sectors, including Child Development Centers under local administrative organizations, local government organizations, the provincial office for local administration, and private sectors.
The ECEEP project significantly aims to develop human resources and reduce disparities among early childhood through quality curriculum. The target group of the project includes the 396 branches of the Child Development Center belonging to the Local Administrative Organization in Nakhon Si Thammarat, providing care for children aged 3-6 years. The ECEEP project is divided into 5 phases:
Phase 1: Data collection of early childhood in Nakhon Si Thammarat province, including students, parents, and school administration.
Phase 2: Establishing collaboration between Walailak University, Child Development Centers, and local administrative organizations.
Phase 3: Development and training of the High Scope curriculum
Phase 4: Monitoring and evaluation of the project’s outcomes
Phase 5: Research for long-term development and data collection
In the fiscal year 2021, the focus is on Phase 1 of the project, aiming to enhance the capabilities and close the educational performance gap of early childhood in the local communities through the implementation of ‘High Scope’ teaching and learning methods.
For the fiscal year 2022, Phase 2 of the project focuses on elevating the capabilities and bridging the educational performance gap of early childhood in the local community by implementing the High Scope teaching and learning approach. It emphasizes a hands-on learning approach and research to use as data in policymaking for equitable early childhood education in Thailand. The target group includes 392 Child Development Centers under sub-district administrative organizations in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, along with 154 sub-district administrative organizations in 27 districts. The 5-period project aligns with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 4, “Quality Education,” which promotes quality and inclusive education for all, as well as lifelong learning opportunities for everyone. It also aligns with SDG 17, “Partnerships for the Goals,” by fostering collaboration with relevant networks and organizations, promoting interdisciplinary cooperation both within and outside the university.
In the fiscal year 2023, there are activities between Phase 3 and Phase 4, in which Walailak University conducts activities to create understanding with administrators, school committees, and teachers of the Child Development Center under the Thai Buri Subdistrict Administrative Organization by organizing meetings and monitoring activities to evaluate student skills after entering the learning process according to the High Scope learning management method.
In addition, the Center for Academic Services and faculty members from the English Major of Walailak University organized the English language teaching activities for the community (Social Engagement) to develop English reading, vocabulary, and pronunciation skills for 5th-grade students at Wat Yang Ngam School and Prateepsart Ismail Memorial School. During the activities, first-year voluntary students of English program demonstrated their skills in voice acting for animations to teach the primary school’s pupils how to dub English-language cartoons, providing an enjoyable learning experience. These activities help improve the English skills of both the primary school’s pupils and WU students, nurturing the benefit to the community by applying WU’s knowledge to the primary school.
