WORLD ORGANIZATION FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
ASIA-PACIFIC eNEWS #36
2008 October 5
Warm Asia and Pacific Greetings to all
National Presidents and OMEP Members
2008 October 5
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OMEP Asia Pacific Region
eNews # 36
2008 October 5
In this eNews
From the Asia Pacific
Region VP
OMEP Asia Pacific
Regional Conference
and Annual Assembly,
Singapore : 2009
August 14th – 16th
News from - OMEP
World Assembly and
Conference Quebec
City, August 2008
“Fact Sheets”:
OMEP APR
OMEP World
Assembly and
Conference 2009
Research & Publications
AP Vice President term
of office.
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OMEP Asia Pacific Region
eNews # 36
2008 October 5
From the OMEP Asia
Pacific Region VP
Dear National Presidents, Secretaries,
members, colleagues and friends in
the OMEP Asia Pacific Region
(APR).
It is pleasing to be back in contact
with all fourteen National Presidents
that make up the OMEP Asia Pacific
Region. The last three months have
been very busy and suddenly the end
of the year is close.
Following the APR Assembly and the
7th International Conference in Hong
Kong, 22-24 May, I spent just over
two very interesting and enjoyable
months in PR China before going to
the World Assembly and Seminar in
Quebec, Canada.
While in China I had the pleasure of
meeting with Professor Pang Lijuan,
National President, Dr Ye Zi National
Secretary and many other OMEP
members including Vice Presidents
Professor Ma, Professor Feng
Xiaoxia, Professor Zhou Xin and
Professor Liu Shanlan. Thanks are
extended to everyone for the warm
welcome and kindness extended to
me while I was in China.
Since returning to New Zealand on
August 15 I spent almost four weeks
in Auckland with my daughter and
family helping with their 20 month
and 1 month old children. I am
sharply reminded of the critical
nature of the birth to three year
and the importance of quality
experiences for young children. I
am also reminded of the OMEP’s
Aim to “promote children’s right
to education and care worldwide”
as a platform for action.
At home in Wellington I am
pleased to be making contact with
OMEP APR National Presidents
and members again.
Hearty thanks are extended to
OMEP Hong Kong for hosting
the 2008 APR Annual Assembly
and the very successful
Conference Catalysts for Changes
in Early Childhood Practice in
May of this year.
Dr Patricia Engle presented on the
disparity between children’s
development in developed and
developing countries reminding us
that “almost half the total number
of children in the world are not
developing to their potential”.
Professor Wendy Schiller, OMEP
Australia, reinforced this message
telling us “that at least 200 million
children are failing to reach their
potential due to malnutrition and
inadequate stimulation in the first
five year of life. (Jolly 2007)”.
Professor Pang emphasized the
importance of Legislation and
Government Policy to underpin
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OMEP Asia Pacific Region
eNews # 36
2008 October 5
quality in early childhood education.
These messages remind us that there
is much to do in our work in early
childhood education and care.
The Minutes from the APR Annual
Assembly, including feedback from
the World Executive Spring Meeting
were sent to all APR National
Presidents in early June. Please
contact me if you have not received a
copy of the Minutes.
In response to the APR Assembly
Minutes I am happy to report that two
countries have volunteered as part of
the Sister Country Scheme to help
Bangladesh. OMEP New Zealand
and OMEP Hong Kong will make
respective contributions of US$38
and US$100 towards Bangladesh’s
annual OMEP Fee for a specified
time. Bangladesh’s annual fee is
US$190. This leaves US$52 not
covered at this point.
I was delighted to receive
Archival/Historical information on
OMEP from PR China and Japan.
Australia provided a full record in the
book Sowing Seeds of Peace (Waters
2006). Other National Presidents are
asked to consider shaping a paragraph
or two about the history of OMEP in
your country. I would like to collate
this information for distribution to
you all.
On this note I send congratulations to
Japan as they celebrate 40 years of
OMEP membership this year. A
publication The Rights of the
Child is planned as part of the
celebration. Japan was the third
country in Asia/Pacific, after
Australia and the Philippines, to
join OMEP.
By now National Presidents will
have received a letter from the
World President, Professor Ingrid
Pramling requesting support for
the establishment of young
children’s libraries in the
earthquake stricken area of
Gansu, Peoples Republic of
China. This worthwhile project is
to both support children who
experienced the earthquake trauma
and to advance their literacy
learning.
You have also received a letter
from Professor Pramling regarding
the UNESCO “Education for all
Goals” and the meeting to be held
in Oslo on 16-18 December 2008.
You will note from Goal 1 (the
only Goal that refers to early
childhood
education/primary
schools) that no attention is given
to the first years of life. National
Committees are asked to send the
letter to their Education Ministers
some of whom may be attending
the meeting.
National Presidents
Reports 2007 and 2008
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OMEP Asia Pacific Region
eNews # 36
2008 October 5
Annual
The Annual Report for 2007 was sent
out to all National Presidents as a CD
in July/August of this year. This is a
change from the published book that
you have received in the past. The
CD includes 49 reports of the 65
OMEP member countries. 12 of the
14 Asia Pacific Countries are
included on the CD. The 2007
Annual Report is available on the
OMEP World Website
www.omep-ong.net
2008
reports
from
National
Presidents are due at the end of
January 2009.
The 2008 report
format was discussed at the World
Assembly in Quebec. The agreed
report format is included as an
appendix to this eNews # 36.
The Asia Pacific Region Fact Sheets
are also due to be submitted with the
2008 report. There is more about the
Fact Sheets below.
I look forward to receiving your
Annual Reports for 2008.
The
reports are an important worldwide
communication tool and record.
♫ ♪♪♪♫♫♪♪♪
OMEP Asia Pacific
Regional Conference
and Annual Assembly,
Singapore : 2009
August 14th – 16th
The Singapore conference provides
an opportunity to begin debating
these issues.
Mark your dairies, book your travel
and what this space for more
information.
Working together at the World
Assembly
Hui Ling Chua National Pres.,
Singapore
Dr Lily Wong, Vice Pres.,
Singapore,
Dr Young-Ok Kim National Pres.,
Korea.
Good news: the date for the Asia
Pacific Region Assembly and
Seminar has been confirmed.
OMEP Singapore will hold these
events on 14 – 15 August 2009.
The Seminar focus will be
Education for Sustainable
Development. ESD
You will note from the OMEP
World President’s recent
newsletter (#38) that this topic is
gain increasing attention as a
factor of climate change,
economic challenges, migration
and cultural diversity and
environmental preservation.
Professor Pramling clarifies ESD
as including “social/cultural,
economies, and environmental
aspects”.
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OMEP Asia Pacific Region
eNews # 36
2008 October 5
In the meantime check the
Singapore Website
www.omep-sgp.org
♫ ♪♪♪♫♫♪♪♪
News from - OMEP
World Assembly and
Conference Quebec City,
August 2008
African participants at the World
Assembly and Hui Ling Chua, Dr Lily
Wong, and Dr Young-Ok Kim.
Twenty
Three
countries
were
represented at the World Assembly
held in Quebec city on Tuesday 5th and
Wednesday 6th August.
Congo
Moleka Doulalote
Nigeria Mary Jude Teresa Nwodo
Ghana
Kofi Nyiaye
Liberia
Malia Harris
PR China
Ye Zi
Hong Kong
Maggie Koong
Japan
Toshiko Kaneda
Korea
Young Ok Kim
Singapore
Hui Ling Chua
Denmark
Steen Moller
France
Marlene Brissad
Portugal AntonioPonas de Carvalho
Sweden
Ingrid Engdal
Switzerland
Yvonne Cook
United Kingdom Janet Morris
Brazil
Maria Salmaze
Chile
Veronica Romo
Columbia
Gladys Hernandez
Mexico
Eley
Uruguay
Laura Camacho
Canda
Ginette Beausejour
United Status Edna Ranck
Haiti
join second day.
World Assembly photo includes 3
Asia Pacific Region participants:
Dr Young-Ok Kim, Pres., Korea
Dr Maggie Koong, World Treasurer
Dr Ye Zi, Secretary, PR China.
World Pres., Prof Ingrid Pramling,
and Immediate Past Pres.,
Prof Selma Simonstein.
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OMEP Asia Pacific Region
eNews # 36
2008 October 5
After the Regional Reports and
Administrative Business the Assembly
broke into five working groups:
 Education
for
Sustainable
Development;
 The structure of OMEP in
different countries;
 Action Plan from birth to 3 years;
 Research Projects for the Future;
 Development Projects for the
Future.
Reports from the working groups were
presented and these are being further
developed for presentation at the World
Assembly in Nigeria in August 2009.
World President, Professor Pramling
raised the question “what makes
OMEP different from the many
other NGOs that are now active in
the world?” This is a question that
relates to the image and future of
OMEP and one we all need to think
about. It will be further discussed at
the World Assembly and the APR
Assembly in 2009.
I welcome
feedback/thoughts you have on this
question as we work to position OMEP
for the challenges of the 21st century.
Professor Pramling World Pres.,
Madeleine Baillageon Nth America
VP,
Maggie Koong, World Treasurer,
Victoria Peralta, Sth America VP,
Milada Rabusicova, Europe VP.
Discussing the Assembly agenda at
the Excom meeting before the
Quebec World Assembly.
Regional meetings were held on the
second day of the Assembly. Asia
Pacific representatives talked about
the “Fact Sheets” that are due to be
submitted with the 2008 Annual
Reports. See “Fact Sheets” Section
for more information.
Happily the World Treasurer,
Maggie Koong was re-elected to this
position
with
the
Assembly
recognising
the
significant
contribution Maggie is making.
Victoria O Bilewu was re-elected
un-apposed to a second term as Vice
President for Africa.
Victoria and Maggie working together
at the Excom meeting before the
Quebec World Assembly.
A highlight of the 2008 Assembly was
the proposal and conformation of
Professor Ma Yinian’s Honorary
Member status. Professor Ma has
devoted herself to close to 50 years of
work in early childhood education in
western areas of the PR China.
Congratulations are extended to
Professor
Ma
for
her
major
contribution.
Madam Jacqueline Theriault of Quebec
Canada and Frances Mayson of Liberia
were also approved as an OMEP
Honorary Members.
The timing of the Seminar Nurturing
Peace Together with Children
coincided
with
several
major
celebrations:
OMEP’s 60th anniversary
OMEP Canada’s 50th anniversary
Quebec City’s 400th anniversary
OMEP Japan’s 40th anniversay
This was an historic line up.
The themes, Resilience, Art and
Culture, Play and Empathy were well
covered by a range of panels and
speakers.
Thanks are extended to
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OMEP Asia Pacific Region
eNews # 36
2008 October 5
OMEP Canada for their contribution
to our learning.
♪♪♪♫♫♫♪♪
Fact Sheets:
OMEP Asia Pacific
Region
OMEP Asia Pacific representatives
attending the Annual Assembly in
Seoul Korea in 2006, October,
agreed to develop “Facts Sheets of
Early Care and Education in Asia
and the Pacific”. The first set of
“Fact Sheets” were written and
published in year 2000. Many of
you will still be holding copies of
the 2000 “Fact Sheets” publication.
Countries contributing to the 2000
“Fact Sheets” were:
PR China
Hong Kong China
Japan
Korea
Aotearoa New Zealand
Philippines
The 2000 “Fact Sheets” are very
valuable record of the early
childhood education and care
situation in the contributing
countries at that time. Please
contact me if you would like a copy
an electronic copy of the 2000 “Fact
Sheets”.
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OMEP Asia Pacific Region
eNews # 36
2008 October 5
The Annual Assembly (2007) in
Bangkok, Thailand further discussed
the “Fact Sheet” idea and set out
headings as a framework for collating
facts from the member countries in our
region.
The headings for the “Fact Sheets of
Early Care and Education in Asia and
the Pacific, 2009” are included as a
separate attachment to this eNews.
All OMEP Asia Pacific Region
member countries are asked to collate
and record your countries information
using the headings as your guide.
Attached is a template, kindly
developed and shared by OMEP
Singapore. Where possible countries
are asked to use and follow the
template. Using the template should
simplify the task of creating your “Fact
Sheet” and enable some consistency of
information.
Thank you Singapore for helping the
“Fact Sheet” process.
Decisions in regard funding for the
publishing and distribution of the “Fact
Sheets” within the region are yet to be
determined. I welcome any thoughts
you may have on this question.
Member countries are asked to present
their countries “Fact Sheets”
along with their 2008 annual report in
late January 2009.
♪♪♪ ♫♫♫
♪♪♪
OMEP World
Assembly and
Conference 2009
The 2009 OMEP World Assembly
and Conference will be held in
Lagos Nigeria 2009 August 3 – 7.
The theme is: Learning to Listen.
Listening to Learn.
The conference will include key
note
speakers,
concurrent
workshops and roundtable Lectures
and seminars.
This is the second time that Nigeria
has hosted an OMEP World event.
More information about the 2009
Assembly and Conference is
available on:
www.omep-nigeria.org/conference
The African region membership has
a growing membership.
The
continent has many challenges and
the need for support is great. I urge
as many members as possible to
attend the Nigerian Assembly and
conference.
Visits to early childhood centres are
being arranged as part of the
conference programme.
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OMEP Asia Pacific Region
eNews # 36
2008 October 5
♪♪♪♫♫♫♪♪
Research & Publications
International Journal of Early
Childhood
Orders are still being received for the
2008 (and beyond) International Journal
of Early Childhood/Journal of OMEP
l’Organisation Mondiale pour
‘I’Education Prescolaire.
Please place your order by emailing:
jonna.larsson@ped.gu.se
Remember the 2008 Journal will focus
on the Asia Pacific Region.
Play and Learning in Early Childhood
Settings
(Pramling and Fleer 2008)
The above publication is now available
by emailing:
SDC-bookorder@springer.com
This cultural study of play includes
contributions from researchers in eight
countries:
New Zealand, Australia, Chile, Hong
Kong China, PR China, Japan, Sweden
and USA. It is a significant OMEP
publication with proceeds going to
OMEP.
International Journal of Early
Childhood 2009
Manuscripts for a Special Issue of the
Journal, to be published in September
2009 are called for. This Special Issue
will focus on Learning for Sustainable
Development.
Please check the website for more
information.
http://www.omep-ong.net/
♪♪♪♫♫♫♪♪
AP Vice President term
of office.
My three year term as OMEP Asia
Pacific Vice President comes to a
close in August 2009. According to
the OMEP world Constitution the
APVP may continue for a second
three year term which is the maximum
tenure.
The next eNews (eNews 37) will be sent
out in December. Please send me news
from your region for inclusion in the
December eNews #37.
Blessings and regards to you all in this
time of social and economic uncertainty.
Doreen Launder
Vice President
OMEP Asia Pacific Region
Aotearoa New Zealand
While I will consider re-nomination
and election for a second and final
term I also remind National Presidents
that the position will be opened up for
reappointment at the World Assembly
in Nigeria.
The role of APVP is very interesting
and challenging. I have learnt a great
deal and enjoyed meeting many
people and making many new friends
over the past two years.
I remind everyone that nominations
for the position OMP Asia Pacific
Region Vice President must be
submitted to the OMEP World
President by 31 May 2009.
♪♪♪♫♫♫♪♪
That’s all for now. I apologise for
lateness of this eNews that I had
hoped to send to you in September. I
hope you find the eNews interesting
and informative.
I enjoy and
appreciate feedback.
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OMEP Asia Pacific Region
eNews # 36
2008 October 5
Another photo from the World
Assembly, Quebec City, Canada
2008.
Includes:
Dr Young-Ok Kim, Korea
Dr Ye Zi, PR China
Dr Nuboko Kamigaichi, Japan
Doreen Launder APVP
and
Immediate Past President Professor
Selma Simonstein,
Victoria O Bilewu, Africa VP
Victoria Peralta, Sth American VP