Abstract:
The study explored the significance of art in training the early childhood educator and to
examine the practices and the varied challenges facing the early childhood educator, in
University of Education, Winneba. The objectives of the study were to explore the
significance of arts in the training of the early childhood educator, to examine the major
component of arts embedded in the training of the early childhood educator and how it is
achieved and to assess how arts has affected the output of the early childhood educator.
The study employed a case study design with the targeted population of the study being
the Lecturers, graduate teachers from five selected schools in the Efutu Municipality and
educators all of Early Childhood Department of University of Education, Winneba
campus with the sample size of 60 respondents. Purposive sampling, Snow balling and
stratified sampling procedures were employed to select five (5) Lecturers, fifteen (15)
teachers and forty (40) students respectively. Semi structured questionnaire and interview
guide was structured and used to elicit responses from the respondents. The data collected
from the field was coded and then analyzed in relation to the research objectives. The
research discovered that the early childhood programme lacks arts facilities like proper
galleries, material and storage facilities to enable students have access to practical arts
works. The research revealed that arts have an overwhelming output on the performance
of early childhood teacher. It was recommended that more physical facilities and arts
facilities should be procured and the Early Childhood Department should link up with
other practical arts oriented department in the University or other sister Universities to
assist them. The research concluded that the arts build the knowledge capacity of the
educator and provide wide range of benefit which would be used later in their
profession for Childs development and growth.
Description:
A Dissertation/Thesis in the DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC EDUCATION, SCHOOL
OF CREATIVE ARTS, submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, University of
Education, Winneba in partial fulfillment of the requirements for award of the
Master of Philosophy (Arts and Culture) degree