BACHELOR OF EDUCATION IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION (BED-ECE)

Designed in Collaboration with NIE Singapore, Brunei University Darussalam,
University of Malaya and De La Salle University Manila

I. Background

Early Childhood Education (ECE) plays a critical role in children’s physical, intellectual, social, and emotional development. It prepares children to succeed in primary school and beyond. Research demonstrates that children who attend pre-school at ages 3-5 are more likely to enroll in primary school at age 6 and less likely to drop out or repeat classes. In the school year 2001-2002, there were 1,015 public pre-schools. During the last few years, the number of public pre-schools has increased rapidly from 2,575 in the academic year 2011-2012 to 2,813 in the academic year 2012-2013, and to 3,184 in the academic year 2013-2014. In addition, community- and home-based models of ECE have been developed. Due to the rapid growth of these programs, there is increasing market demand for qualified pre-school teachers, leaders, and entrepreneurs.

II. Affiliation

The Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood Education (BEd. in ECE) shall be offered and supervised by the Faculty of Education of Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia (PUC).

III. Program Philosophy

This BEd. in ECE curriculum was developed based on certain beliefs and orientations, conceptions of learning, and demands of the society. To this end, an eclectic philosophical approach, particularly a blending of the Progressivism and Reconstructionism philosophies, was employed. We believe that a multi-disciplinary curriculum that emphasizes social sciences in early stages and professional skills and practices in later stages instills a strong theoretical and conceptual foundation in the learners and provides them with adequate opportunities to apply the knowledge and skills in real working conditions. With this regard, the teachers are expected to arouse learners’ curiosity and push them towards higher order thinking and knowledge construction through authentic research which aims to examine social issues and to bring out constructive change. Therefore, this curriculum is essential for developing well-rounded graduates who are physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually able to contribute to the sustainable development of a society with knowledge, harmony and justice.

IV. Program Mission

Our mission is to contribute to the Royal Government of Cambodia’s (RGC) goal to make ECE accessible to children aged 3-5 throughout Cambodia. The program will prepare graduates to serve as instructors, managers, leaders, and entrepreneurs in public and private preschools and to provide guidance to ECE programs. Furthermore, by offering a curriculum that is standardized to regional best practices, the program will help to upgrade the quality of ECE in Cambodia, while also preparing graduates to successfully address market needs within the broader ASEAN community.

V. Program Description

The BEd. in ECE program includes a balance of theory, research, and practice. It will enhance the learners’ knowledge and skills in child development, ECE curriculum development, ECE pedagogy, and child-friendly classroom design and management. It will focus on the development of the whole child, including physical, intellectual, social, and emotional development. It also aims at building ethical and moral character of the learners. In addition, the graduates of this program will be prepared to research and analyze the effectiveness of curricula and pedagogy.

VI. Graduate Competencies

Graduates of this program will be:

• well-informed about ECE and teaching pedagogy in ECE consistent with the Asian standards
• well-equipped with creative, empirical, and ethical approaches to ECE
• confident and competent in exercising the full range of pedagogical skills in ECE in both English and Khmer
• well-trained to serve as technical advisors to ECE institutions or programs
• able to expand skills in entrepreneurship, management, and leadership in ECE
• committed to their continuing professional development and to the welfare of their students

VII. Career Prospects

The graduates will be able to hold the position of preschool teachers, child care-givers,

preschool counselors, researchers, preschool teacher trainers, preschool managers or principals, ECE curriculum developers, program coordinators, local and international NGO staff, MoEYS officers, etc.

VIII. Admission Criteria

Candidates who seek to further their education in the BEd. in ECE should have the following qualifications:

• Hold a high school graduation certificate, or its equivalence.
• Pass the PUC English admission test.
• Pass an interview with the Dean of the Faculty of Education or his/her representative when necessary.
• Submit an application letter stating their interest and goals in the pursuit of the program.
• Submit other supporting documents as necessary.

Advance Standing: It is possible to waive a maximum number of 52 credits (or 40%) of the entire program if the eligible candidate meets one of the following criteria:

1. He/she has successfully completed transferable courses in another institution that is recognized by the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports and/or by the Accreditation Committee of Cambodia.
2. He/she has had extensive working experience in ECE.

Note: The dean is responsible for reviewing a request for credits transfer and making a proposal to the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and PUC President for approval.

IX. Program Learning Outcomes

This program was designed to achieve the following learning outcomes:

A. Knowledge: After completing the program, the students will be able to perform the following tasks:

B. Cognitive Skills: After completing the program, the students will be able to perform the following tasks:

C. Interpersonal skills and responsibility: After completing the program, the students will be able to perform the following tasks:

D. Communication, information technology, and numerical skills: After completing the program, the students will be able to perform the following tasks:

X. Program Structure

This is a four-year program that is composed of 10 foundation courses, 11 functional courses, 11 pre-major courses, and 11 major courses, all of which account for 130 credits.

View the Curriculum