TITLE:
Needs Assessment: Knowledge on Parenting and Improving the Learning Space through Technological Advances in Afghanistan
AUTHORS:
Shahnaz Qayumi, George Pachev, Shabnam Hazrati, Habib Sahar, Son Vuong, Karim Qayumi
KEYWORDS:
Health Education, Needs Assessment, Technology-Empowered Learning
JOURNAL NAME:
Creative Education,
Vol.5 No.9,
May
29,
2014
ABSTRACT: There is a
perception that war and illiteracy have created a gap in knowledge on parenting
amongst parents in developing countries in general, but especially in post
conflict countries such as Afghanistan. This knowledge gap may have subsequent
negative effect on the future generations. There
is also concern that parents in developing countries may not be open to
receiving modern theories of childrearing. Therefore, the objective of this
study was to conduct a needs assessment
survey of Afghan parents with two specific aims: to estimate the need for
knowledge on modern theories of early childhood development, and to determine
if Afghans are open to receiving modern
theories of early childhood development using technological advances such as
learning through
mobile phones. A survey questionnaire was designed and distributed amongst 240
families in Afghanistan. Results of the survey demonstrated a clear need for
education of parents in Afghanistan, and proved that women and illiterate
populations are at a disadvantage to receive this type of information.
Moreover, the study demonstrated that Afghan families are open to receiving information on childrearing and that
knowledge dissemination through technological advances will
be acceptable.