Factor Analysis of the Perceptions of Prospective Teachers on Early Child Development (ECD) Functionaries

Evidence S. Matangi^1, , Adwell Mhlanga¹, Phoebe Kashora², Jenneth Musiyiwa³ and Tendai Chakarisa⁴

¹Department of Statistics, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe

²Department of Communication Skills, Women’s University in Africa, Harare, Zimbabwe

³Department of ECD, Women’s University in Africa, Harare, Zimbabwe

⁴Child Sensitive Social Policies Department, Women’s University in Africa, Harare, Zimbabwe

Cite this paper:
Evidence S. Matangi, Adwell Mhlanga, Phoebe Kashora, Jenneth Musiyiwa and Tendai Chakarisa. Factor Analysis of the Perceptions of Prospective Teachers on Early Child Development (ECD) Functionaries. American Journal of Applied Mathematics and Statistics. 2013; 1(6):128-133. doi: 10.12691/ajams-1-6-4

Abstract

This research seeks to investigate perceptions of student teachers on nurseries and housemaids on Early Childhood Development (ECD). Six factors were extracted on nurseries and five were extracted for housemaids accounting for almost the same amount of variance. The main factor for nurseries functionary importance in ECD was stimulation of the mental and social emphasis of the children; and for housemaids it was on the moral development of the children and their complimentary role to nurseries. Housemaids were more paramount in ECD in terms of their ability to fill in for time-poor parents unlike nurseries due to the varying financial requirements, they were also more flexible on the space requirements for children’s development. Overall, factor analysis was more pronounced for the perceptions on housemaids than nurseries on ECD, which suggest the presence of extraneous variables especially economic ones that influence more the latter’s viability than the former.

Keywords:
early child development housemaids linear combinations nurseries perception

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Figures

References:

[1]	Bennett, J., and Coram, T. (2009) Early Childhood Education Services in Dubai, Knowledge and Human Development Authority, Dubai, December 2009.
[2]	Pound, L. (2005) How Children Learn: From Montessori to Vygotsky- Educational Theories and Approaches made easy, Routledge, London.
[3]	Demma, R. (2005) Building an Early Childhood Professional Development System, Routledge, London.
[4]	Haney, M. and Bissonnette (2011) Teachers’ Perceptions about the Use of Play to Facilitate Development and Teach Prosocial Skills. Creative Education 2011. Vol. 2, No. 1, 41-46.
[5]	Lindsey, E.W. and Colwell, M/.J, (2003) Preschoolers’ emotional competency: Links to pretend and physical play. Child Study Journal 33, 39-52.
[6]	Frost, J.L., Wortham, S.C. and Reifel, S.(2001) Play and Child Development . Prentice Hall. New Jersey.
[7]	Fisher, K. R., Hirsh- Pasek, K., Golinkoff, R. M. and Gryfe, S.G. (2008) Conceptual Split? Parents’ and experts’ perceptions of play in the 21st century. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology 29(2008) 305-316.
[8]	Ginsburg, H. P., Cannon, J., Eisenband, J. G. and Pappas, S. (2005) Mathematical thinking and learning. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology 29 (2008) 305-316.
[9]	Berk, L.E., Mann, T. D. and Organ, A. T. (2006) Make – believe play; Wellspring for development of self – regulation. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology 29(2008) 305-316.
[10]	Tassoni, P. and Hucker, K. (2005) Planning Play and the Early Years (Second Edition) Heinemann Essex.
[11]	Tamang, (2002) Education in Mother Tongue in Nepal. Tribhuvan University Kathmandu.
[12]	Zimbabwe Education Act 1996 Revised Edition Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, Harare.
[13]	Roumani, H.B, ‘‘Maids in Arabia: the Impacts of maids as Careers on Children’s Social and Emotional Development,’’ Journal of Early Childhood Research, 3(2). 149-167. June 2005.
[14]	Goh, E, (2006) Raising the precious single child in urban China-An intergenerational joint mission between parents and grandparents. Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, 4.7-28.
[15]	Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture (2005) Statutory Instrument 106 of 2005.Government Printers, Harare.
[16]	Matangi, E. S., Kashora, P., Mhlanga, A., & Musiyiwa, J. (2013). Perceptions on the Interplay of Housemaids and Nurseries on Early Child Development (Ecd). American Journal of Educational Research, 1(6), 194-198.