Glossary

Basic education

A range of educational activities that take place in various settings, both formal and informal, to meet basic needs. It comprises primary education and secondary education.

Department for International Development

A United Kingdom government department responsible for administering overseas aid and lead the UK’s work to end extreme poverty.

Early childhood

A range of learning and educational activities underpinned by a holistic approach to support children’s physical, social, emotional and cognitive development. The age of early childhood education differs across countries.

Early school experiences

Young children’s early learning experiences in a formal education setting.

Elementary education

Also called primary education. Usually the first stage of formal education.

Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)

Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) aims to promote policies that will improve the economic and social wellbeing of people around the world. The 25 member countries span the globe, from North and South America to Europe and Asia-Pacific. They include many of the world’s most advanced countries but also emerging countries like Mexico, Chile and Turkey.

Primary education

The UNESCO definition is as follows: Primary education provides learning and educational activities typically designed to provide students with fundamental skills in reading, writing and mathematics (i.e. literacy and numeracy), and to establish a sound foundation for learning and solid understanding of core areas of knowledge and personal development, preparing for lower secondary education. It aims at learning at a basic level of complexity with little if any specialisation (http://uis.unesco.org/en/glossary-term/primary-education-isced-1).

Quality education

UNICEF state that children have a right to an education, a quality education. Their definition includes: learners who are healthy, well-nourished and ready to participate and learn, and supported in learning by their families and communities; environments that are healthy, safe, protective and gender-sensitive, and provide adequate resources and facilities; content that is reflected in relevant curricula and materials for the acquisition of basic skills, especially in the areas of literacy, numeracy and skills for life, and knowledge in such areas as gender, health, nutrition, HIV/AIDS prevention and peace; processes through which trained teachers use child-centred teaching approaches in well-managed classrooms and schools and skilful assessment to facilitate learning and reduce disparities; outcomes that encompass knowledge, skills and attitudes, and are linked to national goals for education and positive participation in society.

Role of teachers

Teachers’ core roles is to educate children and young people by fostering their learning development. Beyond that, teachers carry out many other roles including nurturing relationships, supporting social and emotional aspects of learning, as well as being a mentor and guide.