Introduction
Preschool is where children especially between the ages of two and five are provided with education to prepare them to join ordinary level. Some of the terms commonly used to refer to preschool are; kindergarten, baby care or nursery school. On the other hand, tertiary education is provided when one completes ordinary level. It is normally provided in institutes of technology, universities and colleges where the graduates are awarded with diplomas, certificates or academic degrees.
Main body
In comparison between tertiary and preschool education, there is evidence that preschool education is more significant than tertiary education in moulding a useful person. However, there is no absolute guarantee what kind of a person will be moulded for there are so many environmental as well as biological variables as one grows up. “The hypothesis is that preschool education provides a safe, trusting and comfortable environment where children are able to learn through play and interaction. During this age the children’s’ base line level of sense of social wellbeing becomes established” (Barbara B, 1997). Since preschool is foundation for developmental learning then children have access to explore and discover freely within their area of interest and therefore become fascinated in each and every new discovery. In the process, they become prime candidates for education although their stage of development cannot allow them to tackle structured information. The benefits attributable to preschool are many as compared to tertiary education. Research shows that the academic achievement acquired in preschool last a lifetime and it is at this stage that determines what a child will turn out to be when he/ she grows up. Preschool education is more likely to reduce crime and delinquency and this claim can be supported by the research done in Chicago by Edward (2006) which shows that 70 percent of children arrested for a violent crime did not attend preschool. “Local authorities, parents, State and The Federal government pay in economic and social costs for the delinquent behaviors of young adults and rehabilitation in adulthood are expensive and have a poor rate.” (Albert, 1998) The Carolina Abecedarian Project reported that the rate of pregnancy among the teens is lower among the children who attended preschool. “In North Carolina, teen pregnancy among children who attended preschool reduced significantly 26 percent versus 45 percent” (Barbara, 1997). Children who attended preschool are more likely to form a stable family. According to the High/Scope Perry Preschool Project in Michigan it is evidence that majority of people who attended preschool are living happily with their spouses than their peers who never attended preschool. Stronger communities are experienced where the majority attended preschool. It is believed that “preschool education results in savings by reducing the need for remedial and special education, welfare, and criminal justice services” (High/Scope Perry Preschool Project, 2005). The efficiency and productivity of children improves and these as well contributes in making the work of classroom teacher easier in working directly with children and spend less time on classroom management. The person who attended preschool is more likely to be gainfully employed and also he/she is likely to earn more than those who did not attend preschool.
Conclusion
To summarize, it is clear that a person who has attended preschool tend to possess some advanced skills in areas such as problem-solving and this makes a human being useful in the society. Therefore it is advisable to enroll children in preschool for when they learn to cope with outside environment, they will live happily thereafter in life.
Reference
Albert Francis Osborn, (1998) The Social Life of Britain’s Five-year-olds: A Report of the Child Health and Education Study. New York: Routledge.
Barbara Beatty, (1997) Preschool Education in America: The Culture of Young Children from the Colonial Era to the Present. New York: Yale University Press.
Edward Ziegler,(2006) A Vision for Universal Preschool Education. London: Cambridge University Press.
High/Scope Perry Preschool Project, (2005) The Economics of Investing in Universal Preschool Education in California, Michigan: University of Michigan Press.