What is the ECE-CP?

The ECE-CP (Early Childhood Education Certificate Programme) is an early years’ education programme, committed to developing and supporting early childhood professionals. It is an academically rigorous programme, yet flexible in its approach. It has been developed in collaboration with our institutional partners, Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, and Ryerson University in Canada. This innovative programme is the first of its kind in the country.

The institutional linkage between the partners has been supported by the Aga Khan Foundation (Pakistan) through the Pakistan-Canada Social Institutions Development Programme, in collaboration with the Canadian International Development Agency.

Why should I choose ECE as a career?

Are you concerned about children, about education and schooling, about competitiveness, about values and violence in our society? Well, research tells us that it is in the early years that the foundation for the kind of people we will become, are established. Do you want to make a difference to the way the adults and decision makers of tomorrow conduct themselves, their businesses and raise their families? By working with the young children of today, you can help shape the future.

In Pakistan, there is a great need for professional early years’ teachers. At present, the only validated ECE programmes are based on the Montessori approach to ECE.

What will I learn?

Graduates of the ECE-CP will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes:

• Knowledge of the history and philosophy of ECE, and its importance in the East and West
• Knowledge and understanding of child development from zero to eight
• Knowledge and understanding of family structures in a changing environment
• Knowledge and understanding of different curricular approaches to ECE
• Knowledge and understanding of active learning and the importance of play
• Knowledge of and the ability to promote pro-social behaviour
• Understanding of the Philosophy Statements and Statement of Objectives, in the National ECE Curriculum (2007), Ministry of Education, Government of Pakistan
• Knowledge and analytical skills required for observation, record keeping and assessment of the learning environment, group dynamics, individual children and own performance
• Knowledge, skills and ability to carry out on-going action research
• The ability to plan and organise an inclusive, active learning environment
• The ability to plan and implement developmentally appropriate programmes that meet the needs and interests of children
• Practical experiences in early childhood environments that demonstrate the application of theory to practice

What courses will I be required to take for the ECE-CP?

Here is a list of the courses you will take in the ECE-CP:

View Course Descriptions »

How long will it take to complete the programme?

The ECE-CP will start in September 2013 and end in June 2014.

How many hours in the day will I have to invest?

Class days and hours differ during each term. Depending on the number of courses in the term, classes will be held three or four days a week in the afternoons, from 2:30 p.m.– 5:30 p.m. Course delivery hours will be the same for all students at the TRC-IECE. One course in Term 1 is a combination of self-study at home and on site classes.

In-Service students are expected to go to their work place every day and not miss school.

Pre-Service students are expected to spend three to four mornings a week, at a school, one of our field placement sites, where you will observe ECE in action. Later you will be expected to assist the teacher and then plan and independently implement developmentally appropriate activities.

What will classes be like? How will I be evaluated? How many tests will I have to take?

The teaching and learning strategies have been designed to facilitate professional practices and personal development. From brainstorming, interactive lectures, group discussions, documentary and film screenings, reading groups, and Internet research to hands-on learning in the classroom, a range of methods are used to cater to your individual learning styles. Each course is linked to, and builds on the learning from concurrent and previous courses, yet is complete in itself.

Assessment is a critical part of your learning and will take place during the time frame of each 14-week course. Like the teaching and learning strategies, there are diverse assessment strategies, ranging from in-class group projects, to individual presentations to written assignments and mid evaluations which may be open-book, take-home or to complete in class in 90 minutes, in week 7 of each course. Details about the evaluation and grading plan/policy are in your Student Handbook. You will get this once you register and are admitted.

Who will teach the courses?

Mahenaz Mahmud has a BA (Hons) Degree in Psychology, from Karachi University. She has 10 years of teaching and team leading experience at Karachi Grammar School, where she introduced the High/Scope approach to learning for early years’ classrooms. Since 1991 she has worked at TRC with a wide range of schools/teachers from the private and public sectors. She was instrumental in the development and formalisation of Pakistan’s first National ECE Curriculum.

Maria Haque has a Masters of Arts degree, from Teachers College, Columbia University, NY, USA. She has majored in Curriculum and Teaching. She has seven years experience as a teacher/coordinator at Mrs. Haque’s Junior school, and as a workshop leader at TRC since 1999. She is currently Director Academics at Haque Academy.

Saher Shaikh has an Advanced Diploma in Early Childhood Development from the Aga Khan University-Human Development Programme and a double Masters in Sociology and English from the University of Sindh. She has a diverse range of experiences, including, one year’s teaching experience in the early years and more recently as Assistant Coordinator ‘Primary Years Programme’ at The Learning Tree School. Prior to that, she worked as an Assistant Programme Officer for the RCC Project at the Aga Khan Education Services. In that role she participated actively in school improvement in 37government girls primary schools in Sindh. She has also taught for four years at the University of Sindh, first as a Research Associate and then as a Lecturer in the English Department.

Uzma Rauf has a BA Degree from Karachi University, a Diploma in Computer Science from Beaconhouse Informatics and is a graduate of the TRC-IECE (2007-08). She has 6 years of teaching experience at both the senior and junior levels at The City School PAF Chapter and the PECHS Girls’ School. Since 2008, she has conducted and assisted in a number of ECE workshops and courses at TRC and TRC-IECE. She is a full time faculty member of the TRC – IECE.

Tanya Shah completed High School from the Karachi American School and has attained a Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design from the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture. She is a 2007-08 graduate of the ECE Certificate Programme from TRC – Institute of Early Childhood Education. She has been teaching young children art at The Early Learning Centre for six years. She has also performed duties of a coordinator for the pre school section during her working tenure at The Early Learning Centre.

What kind of support and guidance can I expect if I get admission?

Our aim is to provide teacher education that is accessible to all. TRC’s philosophy from the outset has been to “take teachers from where they are” and help them to grow and develop into professional teachers. The TRC-IECE conforms to this ideal.

Professionalism in ECE is in its infancy in Pakistan, and we are committed to building a core of ECE professionals who understand developmentally appropriate practice. We are an equal opportunities, student-focussed organisation, and will therefore support you to achieve your potential as an early years’ professional. Support will be given in the following ways: small group tutorials to help you clarify course content and help with IT skills. Pastoral care and counselling will also be provided to those who need it. All our students are assigned a field-supervising teacher who acts as a guide and also gives regular and meaningful feedback on reflective journals, which you will write through the year.

Resources available for students include: computers and Wi-Fi, tips on public speaking, making presentations and writing summaries. Students in difficulty or under stress are encouraged to email a draft of their assignment to course leaders who provide feedback via email.

What do former ECE-CP students have to say about the programme?

Our ex-students, some of who are now volunteering at TRC, have had a range of transformational experiences during the year long Early Childhood Education Certificate Programme. See what they have to say …
Afshan
Huba
Lubna
Mahjabeen
Nida
Saima
Yasmin

What are the admission requirements? How should I apply?

Admission to the ECE-CP will be considered only if you have successfully completed a minimum of 4 A Levels and/or a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline.

Download the Application Form and submit it to the TRC-Institute of ECE.

Once you have downloaded, completed and submitted the application form from the TRC-IECE website, you will be given a date and time to come in for a written assessment and an interview. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. You will be admitted on the basis of your capacity to benefit from the Programme and your ability to communicate proficiently in English. The Admission Schedule follows.

For In-service Students
Amount in PKR: 125,000

For Pre-service Students
Amount in PKR: 140,000

• E-mail: iece@trconline.org

• Call TRC-IECE between 9.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m. Monday through Friday at the following numbers:
  (92-21) 3539-2976
  (92-21) 3539-4059

• Visit TRC-IECE:
  C-121, 2nd Floor, Ehtesham Centre
  DHA Phase 1, Korangi Road
  Karachi – 75500
  Pakistan

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