Más Que Palabras [More Than Words]: Chaos, Discourse, and Praxis in Ecuador’s Early Childhood Policy

Authors

  • Maria S. Mavrides Calderon Hunter College, City University of New York
  • Maria Dolores Lasso Universidad San Francisco de Quito

Keywords:

Ecuador, early childhood policy, discourse analysis, GERM, critical policy analysis

Abstract

The Ecuadorian government’s lackluster implementation of its Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) policies merits further scrutiny. Seeking to catalyze change, we explored the discourse surrounding ECEC in Ecuador, as represented in government (n = 22) and media documents (n = 110) as well as social media posts (n = 253) to unveil incongruencies between policy and reality. Utilizing Critical Policy Analysis and an ecological lens, our semiotic discourse analysis study uncovered promising ECEC conceptualizations, contrasting the dissonances between propaganda and implemented policy. In a country shaped by political chaos, ecological warfare, and narco-violence, ECEC is not immune to these forces, as reflected by policymakers’ stances and implementations. Findings and recommendations are provided to guide future policies.

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Published

2025-10-27

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 3 (2025): Engaging Early Childhood Education in Times of Chaos and Authoritarianism. Part II

Section

Theme Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Maria S. Mavrides Calderon, Maria Dolores Lasso

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