OECD Thematic Review of ECEC: Canada reports

INTRODUCTION

With the release of the Canada Background Report and Country Note, there is increased attention in Canada to the work of the OECD Thematic Review of ECEC. This issue file provides:

- an overview of the OECD Thematic Review of ECEC
- links to the Canada Background Report and Country Note
- highlights from the Country Note recommendations
- other important reports from the Thematic Review of ECEC and related readings
- relevant news articles
- responses to the Canada reports

A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE OECD THEMATIC REVIEW OF ECEC

The Thematic Review of Early Childhood Education and Care Policy was launched by the Education Committee of the Paris-based Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD/OCDE) in 1998. Development of this project was motivated by a 1996 meeting of Education Ministers from OECD member countries (essentially, industrialized countries) on Making Lifelong Learning a Reality for All. With the aim of strengthening the foundations of lifelong learning, this meeting identified a goal of improving access to and quality in early childhood education and care and recommended that a Thematic Review of ECEC be carried out.

A set of objectives, analytical framework, and methodology were developed for the Thematic Review, and OECD member countries were invited to participate through their national Education Ministries. Twenty-one countries volunteered to participate in the review (Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States), which took place in two rounds. Early in the review process, representatives from countries participating in the first round agreed upon the framework, scope and process of the review, and identified the major policy issues for investigation. A first comparative report (Starting Strong), based on the first round of country reviews, was released at an international conference in Stockholm, June 13-15 2001.

The Canadian Review, like the others, followed the protocols and methods designed by participating countries. A national Background Report was produced by the country – in this case, commissioned by Human Resources Development Canada (now Social Development Canada) -and authored by Gillian Doherty, Martha Friendly and Jane Beach who worked with a federal/provincial steering committee. Following completion of the Background Report, a team of four international ECEC experts came to Canada (September, 2003), visiting Ottawa and the four provinces who had offered host them (Prince Edward Island, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and British Columbia). The program in each venue included visits to ECEC programs, meetings with officials and with community partners. Based on their visits and meetings, the Background Report and other documents, the expert OECD team prepared a second report on ECEC in Canada – the Canada Country Note - identifying key strengths and weaknesses and making suggestions for progress.

During the course of the Review, the OECD also held a series of workshops for officials on key topics such as financing, data and curriculum. A second comparative report on ECEC is expected from the OECD in 2005.

OECD THEMATIC REVIEW OF ECEC: CANADA BACKGROUND REPORT AND COUNTRY NOTE

Canada Background Report
- full report in pdf

Canada Country Note
- full report in pdf

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE RECOMMENDATIONS, PREPARED BY THE CRRU

OECD Thematic Review of ECEC: Canada Country Note -- Highlights
from the recommendations (Chapter 5)
SOURCE: Childcare Resource and Research Unit, October 25th, 2004
Document in pdf

OTHER BACKGROUND REPORTS AND COUNTRY NOTES FROM THE OECD THEMATIC REVIEW OF ECEC
The following are the Background Reports and Country Notes that have been completed to date. The reports from Sweden and Norway should be noted as particularly mature and comprehensive systems of ECEC. Further information and reports from the OECD Thematic Review of ECEC are available on their website at: http://www.oecd.org/document/3/0,2340,en_2649_34511_27000067_1_1_1_1,00.html Australia - Background Report - Country Note Belgium - Background Report (Flanders) part 1, part 2 - Background Report (French community) (in French only) - Country Note (Flanders) - Country Note (French community) (in French only) The Czech Republic - Background Report - Country Note Denmark - Background Report - Country Note Finland - Background Report - Country Note Ireland - Background Report - Country Note Korea - Background Report - Country Note The Netherlands - Background Report - Country Note Norway - Background Report - Country Note Portugal - Background Report: - part 1 - part 2 - part 3 - part 4 - part 5 - part 6 - Country Note Sweden - Background Report - Country Note United Kingdom - Background Report - Country Note United States - Background Report - Country Note
OTHER REPORTS FROM THE OECD THEMATIC REVIEW
Starting strong: Early childhood education and care --Comparative report SOURCE: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2001 - Full report in pdf - Ordering information - RELATED READING: CRRU BRIEFing NOTE: Executive summary: Starting Strong—Early education and care Curricula and pedagogies in early childhood education and care – Five curriculum outlines SOURCE: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, March 2004 Full report in pdf Financing ECEC services in OECD countries by Gordon Cleveland and Michael Krashinsky SOURCE: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, January 2003 Full report in pdf Early childhood education and care for children from low-income or minority backgrounds by Dr. Paul Leseman SOURCE: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, June 2002 Full report in pdf
RELATED READINGS FROM THE CRRU
CRRU BRIEFing NOTE: Executive summary: Starting Strong—Early education and care. Report on an OECD Thematic Review SOURCE: Childcare Resource and Research Unit, 2001 Briefing note in pdf CRRU BRIEFing NOTE: Building a firm foundation for lifelong learning: The importance of early childhood education and care SOURCE: Childcare Resource and Research Unit, 2002 Briefing note in pdf Strengthening Canada's social and economic foundations: Next steps for early childhood education and child care by: Martha Friendly SOURCE: Policy Options, March 2004 Article in pdf
NEWS ARTICLES
Canada's new shame: Cheating its children with two-bit child care by James McNulty SOURCE: Vancouver Province Article Report spurs push for child care reform by Margaret Philp & Gloria Galloway SOURCE: Globe and Mail, October 26, 2004 Article A call to action on child care SOURCE: Toronto Star, October 26, 2004 Article Quebec's the odd one out in its ambition for day care by Kazi Stasta SOURCE: Montreal Gazette, October 26, 2004 Article Stop tossing cash at 'bad' child care system: analyst by Norma Greenaway SOURCE: Ottawa Citizen, October 26, 2004 Article Child care report hailed by Laurie Monsebraaten and Mary Gordon SOURCE: Toronto Star, October 26, 2004 Article Canada's child care will improve, Dryden insists SOURCE: CBC.ca News, October 25, 2004 Article Canada’s child care is failing, OECD says by Margaret Philp SOURCE: Globe and Mail, October 25, 2004 Article Ad hoc approach to childcare panned SOURCE: Toronto Star, October 25, 2004 Article
RESPONSES
Commitment to action on child care now! SOURCE: Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada, October 26, 2004 Press release Solutions urgently needed to solve Canada’s child care labour shortage SOURCE: Child Care Human Resources Sector Council, October 26, 2004 Press release International report reinforces urgent need for a national child care system SOURCE: Canadian Child Care Federation, October 25, 2004 Press release Tony Martin calls on Liberals to act on OECD child care findings SOURCE: Canada's New Democratic Party, October 25, 2004 Press release

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This list in not intended to be an exhaustive examination of this topic; for a more comprehensive list, search the Childcare Resource and Research Unit resource library catalogue Childcare Information Resource Collection (CIRC).