Experiences of teachers after training on foundations for children (F4C) in early childhood education (ECE) in Chitral Pakistan

The early childhood years are critical for the young children's educational journey and later better future. Well-trained teachers are crucial for children's adequate development. The current qualitative study presents the experiences of teachers after training in Early Childhood Education (ECE) in the rural context of Pakistan. Data were collected mainly through interviews and classroom observations. Findings revealed that teachers' participation in professional development program enriched their understanding of ECE and developed their conceptions about social-emotional wellbeing of children. Findings also revealed that besides developing their perceptions about quality ECE that caters to the needs of all children, there exists a gap between the teachers' perceptions and their classroom practices. This study suggests that special consideration is to be paid by the government towards ECE and ongoing support, guidance, and monitoring of early childhood teachers' classroom practices.