PERCEIVED IMPACT OF TEACHERS' EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION INEARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION IN FEDERAL CAPITALTERRITORY (FCT), ABUJA: IMPLICATION FOR GUIDANCE ANDCOUNSELLING

Abstract

Early Childhood Care and Development Education (ECCDE) is an education that focuseson the care, protection, stimulation, and learning of children from age 0-5 years in a crecheor nursery. This is to help in the smooth transition from the home to the school, to inculcatesocial and moral norms and values. This study examined the impact of teachers’educational qualifications on the quality of Early Childhood Development Education inthe Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, and explored the implications for guidanceand counselling. Using a descriptive survey design, data were collected from 360 ECCDEteachers selected through multi-stage sampling techniques. A researcher-developedquestionnaire with established validity and reliability was employed, and data wereanalysed using descriptive statistics, t-test, and ANOVA at the 0.05 level of significance.To establish the reliability, the instrument was subjected to a test-retest reliabilitytechnique, and a coefficient of 0.88 was obtained using Pearson’s Product-MomentCorrelation formula. Findings revealed that professional training is relevant in earlychildhood education, and that the teachers’ educational qualifications were found to besignificant in the teaching quality, classroom arrangement and management,implementation of the curriculum, and children’s learning outcomes. Gender was found tohave a significant impact on teachers’ educational qualifications in ECCDE as a result oftheir numbers in the participation in the study, while years of working experience had nosignificant difference. The study concluded that educational qualification adequatelyprepares teachers for better teaching, higher degrees in ECCDE help teachersdemonstrate better classroom management skills, and professional certification alsoimproves teachers for a better understanding of child development. The study thereforerecommended that counselling services be provided in support of teachers’ professionaldevelopment, career advancement and psychosocial support. The study recommends thatteachers be enhanced in their educational standards, teachers’ professional development,and the implementation of good policies in support of ECCDE and quality childdevelopment outcomes in the FCT, Abuja.