International Contacts

My international contact is Ms. Gabby from Romania, a former elementary school teacher.  She has been very responsive to my emails, and this week was no exception.  Ms. Gabby’s English is fairly good, though at times I find it difficult to understand her English.  According to Ms. Gabby, the Romanian government provides universal, "public" access to preschool beginning at age 3.  I presume "public" translates into educational funding through tax dollars.  Approximately 10% of the population will choose to utilize private preschools, for reasons that were not set forth by Ms. Gabby.  At preschool, the day begins at 8 am and ends at noon.  During this time, the children take part in four activities, each for no more than 35 minutes, then lunch is served, followed by a two hour nap.  If an extended day is chosen by the parents, then recess time is provided.  I have followed up with Ms. Gabby as to what the four activities of the day may be.  A clue may be found in the educational requirements of preschool teachers in Romania.  According to Ms. Gabby, teachers are tested on their vocational and “general” knowledge.  One test is conducted verbally, and assesses teachers on their diction, memory, and public speaking skills.  Another test is written, and examines skills in foreign languages, math, geography, and history.  Finally, other tests are conducted to see if the teacher can play a musical instrument, draw, paint, or play sports.  I found these last tests particularly interesting since they are not done in the States.  All of these teacher examination tests, in addition to the schedule of the preschool day, are evidence of what the Romanian culture values in preschool education, and what it considers to be a high-quality early learning experience.  Moreover, the government's commitment to early childhood education is showcased by its universal, "public" access to preschool education.