The Impact of Family Environment and Family Management on Early Childhood Care and Education in the Estate Sector of Sri Lanka

Abstract

The family is responsible for shaping children to perform well in education and secure basic health care standards by crafting an enabling environment. Since the introduction of a comprehensive ECCE policy in 2004, families have been enabled to access quality early childhood care and education services in Sri Lanka, but the progress in selected estate communities falls short. This research thus explores how does family environment influenced by unique sociocultural determinants of estate communities (as a disadvantaged community) in the country affect ECCE provisions and their outcomes. Drawing on data from forty-four interviews, four focus group discussions, and empirical observations in six estate communities selected from Nuwaraeliya, Badulla, Kandy and Rathnapura districts indicates the failure of family management and uncooperative family environment are detrimental to the provision of ECCE services and obtaining intended outcomes. Estate dwellers are less likely to continue a manged-happy-family life as informed decision-making is left out unconsciously due to certain subculture determinants. The lack of age-appropriate experiences about childcaring responsibilities can lead to failures of family management; this in turn negatively affects ECCE in the estate sector. Thus, reinforcing an enabling family environment through contextualised policies is essential to ensure good and quality early childhood care and education for children in studied estate communities of the country.