By Eric Wamanji
They are tiny, almost nondescript, places where we leave our little ones as we rush to work. They are theaters of cry, giggle and play. Yet, childcare centres could be the answer to the immigration and integration headache that Netherlands is reeling in. Indeed, immigration is a hot political potato in the Holland today. It even informs the current political discourse. And, Geert Wilders, the leader of Freedom Party, an increasingly popular outfit, is the high priest of the anti-immigration crusade. His party is persuaded that non-westerners are rendering Holland poorer and are therefore unwelcome.
But Margot Meeuwing, thinks differently. To her, Netherlands needs integration not disintegration. And the way to this cohesion is in little expected quotas – childcare centres. The big role of child-care centres “Child-care system is a strong tool of integration. It’s the way to shape a more unified Holland,” says Margot, the director of Pedagogiekontwikkeling . This organisation has developed the Traces approach to childcare centers based on Regio Emilia. She says that children, regardless of nationality, have a lot in common and they are also fast-learners hence it is easier to shape them. They are also quick and learning language which is a great recipe for integration. Childcare centres offer that opportunity to learn Dutch. “We make all topics discussable at that level and children grow respecting each other,” Margot says cheerily. Child-care centres also offer an opportunity for parents of diverse nationalities to congregate and discuss about their children. This way, they appreciate and respect each other. Margot believes that parents and teachers are critical stakeholders to child-care centres. They have to be involved to form an integrated society, she explains. That is why Traces offers training to teachers on how to deal with children. The Traces approach builds a child’s self-esteem and allows the children to express themselves freely. It also offers an opportunity where children can learn about each other’s differences and strengths. “This approach is context specific,” chips in Tede Boersma, a teacher at De Plataneen, in Amsterdam, where Traces is practiced. “Each school has its own history, culture and population, thus demanding a unique pedagogy.” Traces has three key approaches to early-child care: letting children to communicate freely so that they can learn from each other, allow adults to shape the children and giving children an opportunity to use materials and objects to learn. “The immigrants are here to stay. Now we need a solution that will offer a seamless integration. That is where childcare centres comes in,” says Tede. Margot bemoans the current system of early child-care which she says fans the embers of segregation and breeds
suspicion, fear and uneasiness. The current system has created separate centres for Dutch-only and for immigrants. When the children get to primary school they find it difficult to cope. Margot want this system changed to make it all-inclusive. This way, she says, all children will have an opportunity for interaction and from thence a formidable nation will be born. Listen to the audio