Pertinence and characteristics of the Initial Education at the Bolivar State University

Abstract

The demand for spots to study Early Childhood Education in higher education in the country is growing. However, the existing supply in universities has remained the same, resulting in two applicants for every offered spot. This work aimed to determine and assess the relevance of the Early Childhood Education degree at Bolivar State University, its importance, demand, enrollment, and employability for its graduates in the Bolivar province. The research was observational, retrospective, cross-sectional, and descriptive, using a strengths and weaknesses matrix, surveys, and documentary analysis. The results show that in the SWOT matrix, the economic dimension leads to affected legislation and support for obtaining university scholarships, with few threats in the technological size and threats in the sociocultural dimension, such as violence in the urban sector, social cohesion, and the decision of parents and children not to want to leave home; there are opportunities in interculturality and the current democracy within the university. Regarding the supply and demand for spots, the number of students accepting to study for this degree has increased, with a higher level of approval. For graduates, there is a 92% employability rate, taking about a year to find a job, and the remuneration exceeds the national minimum wage. The Initial Education career is relevant and essential at the provincial and national level, which commits the State University of Bolívar to society to train high-level professionals specialized in child development, providing quality knowledge and educational innovation.