Girne Amerikan University (GAU) Preschool Teaching Department Head Assist. Prof. Dr. Azize Ummanel stated that the education which involves 0-6 years period of children and supports mental, social, emotional, psychomotor, language and self-maintenance abilities are very important and added; “In this period, having a good preschool teacher makes great contribution to obtain abilities”

In the television program that she attended, Azize Ummanel emphasized the importance of preschool education and the teachers who will give this education and refered the followings:

0-6 ages are the most critical period

“Preschool education involves a critical period which contains 0-6 years period and supports the mental, social, emotional, psychomotor, language and self-maintenance abilities. It is important for children to start preschool education after the age of 3 as they come together with their age groups in the preschool education institutions rather that their families who are the first social environment for them. Because, in this period, children also learn several social abilities from their age groups like they learn from the adults. In the preschool education institutions, by following certain routines they acquire self-maintenance and social abilities such as washing hands, lining up, sharing, helping each other and waiting for their turn.”

The age range in which the first abilities are gained

Ummanel remarked that children improve their small muscle abilities with works such as kneading dough which is an activity for the primary school preparation process, cutting-sticking on and beading and continued; “Children gain the ability of holding a pencil when they start the primary school. Then, they gain basic mathematics skills with the activities like ordering, forming a pattern and grouping and they contribute to their vocabulary by learning new words from both their friends and the books that their teacher reads them. During this period, having a good preschool teacher also makes big contributions to obtain these abilities.

Besides, Ummanel made a statement about the preschool education in TRNC and underlined that the preschool institutions are increasing day by day in TRNC and teachers who graduated from GAU have a great contribution in this.

Ummanel also emphasized that the preschool education needs to be open and the education is to be given by the experts.

“It is very pleasing that the institutions which are opened by experts develop constantly and that make activities which include the families to the education process. Because, we cannot think the children without their families in this institutions. They need to consolidate their education in the family environment and this is only possible by including the families into the school activities and educating them. The increase in such events in our country is quite pleasing. However, unfortunately, there are some schools which have low quality of education. We believe that these schools will also improve with supervisions. I also believe that education authorities have critical position in this regard. In this regard, we are, as academicians, ready to work in coordination with our government.”

Qualified teacher, qualified education

Ummanel: “Education in the preschool affects the whole life of children. Social abilities which are not obtained in this period become very hard to obtain in the future. For instance, if ability such as sharing is not gained in the preschool period and if a child does not understand the importance of it, he also will not share in the following periods of his life and can have social difficulties. A child who does not share, cooperate and develop empathy is the ones who have the risk of rejection from their age groups. Sadly, children who experience social rejection can face with this problem also in their following ages. Qualified preschool teacher is the person who tries to improve children’s’ inadequacies and supports them in everything. On the other hand, unqualified teachers who do not have an education in this field can break the self-confidence of children by behaving wrongly and they can prevent children’s’ entrepreneurship which is needed for their development. Therefore, they can make deep and permanent wounds in children.”

GAU difference in teaching..

Ummanel: “In 2008-2009, GAU Preschool Teaching Department has started to admit students with the confirmation of TR Higher Education Institution. There are averagely 550 students in our department which have been increasing its student and teacher quality since the first day it established. Along with the theoretical lectures, our students also have applied lectures which they have the opportunity to put what they learn into practice. Besides, each year our department influences everyone with the community service practices and social responsibility projects.”

 Social Responsibility Projects

Ummanel who mentioned about the social responsibility projects of GAU Preschool Teaching Department referred that the “Early Childhood Education Support Club” is directed by a female and male student and many activities are organized under the name of this club. It is also stated that this year they have organized trips, special nights and football tournament which the female and male teams compete together, every year, department dinner and picnic is made by the club students and within the community service practices lecture, they make great contributions to many institutions and schools.

Ummanel: “Renewing the classes for the schools which are in need, arranging the playgrounds in schools, collecting donations for cancer patient children, organizing activities that create awareness, preparing public service announcements that also involves neglect and exploitation, donating books and helping out families who are in need is among our activities.”

Ummanel specified that they, as Preschool Teaching, organize various activities throughout the year and continued; “For example, this year, we evaluated the child rights and the situation of it in our country with the speakers that we invited as part of the World Children’s Day. By combining music and drama, we held atelier works in which our students could be more active. Lastly, we made a commune with precious speakers about what waits for the students who will graduate from the preschool teaching department.”

Flying Angels Project

Ummanel explained that they, as department, attend the social responsibility projects which organize under GAU, one of them is Flying Angels Project and there is cooperation with three different departments. It was referred that these departments are School of Nursing, Psychology Department and Preschool Teaching Department and students who are in these departments make contribution to the project for a certain fee, students who are in nursing department help families who are old and in need of care as part of the project, students who are in psychology department give psychological support and students who are in preschool teaching department give support to families who need help in home-based child care.