Assessment tools in Early Childhood Education, Implications for Sustainable Development in Nigeria

Abstract

This paper examined assessment tools in early childhood education, implication for sustainable development in Nigeria. Assessment is a process of arranging or fashioning data into an interpretable form which focuses on a number of variables judged to be important and utilize a number of techniques to gather data from multiple sources. Early childhood education is not about teaching but it is about exploration and learning. It is segmented into ages 0-4 years, situated in daycare or crèches, fully in the hands of the private sectors and social development whilst ages 5-6 (preprimary) are within the formal sector. In early childhood education sector, the care-giver is very important and they cannot work in isolation without the child and the school. In this early childhood assessment is a tool used to gather and provide educators, parents and families with critical information about a child development and growth. It looked at the importance of assessment and this paper examined also the types of child assessment and implementation of assessment into program. This paper discussed principles of assessment and functions of child assessment. In conclusion assessment tools should be used to improve the instruction, identify disabilities, and determine program eligibility to improve learning and to further accountability.