International Certificate Programme in early childhood education

The Institute of Early Childhood Education and Development (IECED) by KLAY, in collaboration with Finland International Education (FINE), has launched a teacher-training programme for the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) sector in India.

Titled, ‘International Certificate Programme in Early Childhood Education’, the course aims to introduce the best of Finland’s early childhood education pedagogy to India that would cater to the learning needs of children in the new world order.

 In the context of new skills in demand for the post-COVID world and with the National Education Policy 2020 highlighting the significance of upskilling of teachers especially in the ECCE and primary levels, the course looks at promoting lifelong learning and imparting crucial life skills. An exclusively online course, this programme gives participants valuable tools and the technical know-how to meet the challenges of today’s early years education system and provides the opportunity to learn Finland’s early years best practices while sitting in the comfort of their homes.

 The Finnish Early Childhood Education system is world-renowned and dates back to the late 19th century. In addition to KLAY’s pedagogy, this new programme will incorporate the Finnish National Core Curriculum, where early childhood education and care is seen as an entity comprising three areas: education, teaching and care. The trainees are encouraged to focus on:

●     Learning areas to help children develop not only subject specific skills, but also their comprehensive competences and skills needed in life

●     They are urged to focus on identifying and utilising character strengths and promoting positive self-esteem among children via the positive pedagogy methodology

●     The training programme will also give the teachers an insight on how to develop cognitive skills through art, music and play, take lessons from every situation and activity and promote inclusivity and acceptance among children through optimum participation.

The International Certificate Program in Early Childhood Education is a 25-week online programme where the Finnish faculty and trainers from KLAY’s Institute of Early Childhood Education and Development (IECED) will collaborate and conduct live classes for students on an online-only format. The participants learn about early childhood development and early years' education both at the theoretical and practical level. The course will end with an online exam and certification is jointly provided by KLAY and FINE.

The first batch will begin on December 2, 2020. Last date to register for the first batch is  November 27.