Level of Readiness and Challenges of Child Development Workers in Implementing the ECCD Curriculum in Barangay Child Development Centers

Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) serve as a foundational framework for the holistic growth and lifelong learning of young children. In the Philippines, its implementation is mandated by Republic Act No. 10410 and strengthened by Republic Act No. 12199, which emphasize quality early childhood education delivered by competent Child Development Workers (CDWs) and supported by strong institutional systems; however, implementation continues to face challenges related to limited resources, professional development gaps, administrative constraints, and varying levels of community and parental involvement. This study examined the level of readiness and the challenges encountered by CDWs in implementing the ECCD Curriculum in Barangay Child Development Centers in the Municipality of Mabinay, Negros Oriental. A quantitative descriptive-correlational design was employed, using a validated researcher-made Likert-scale questionnaire administered to ten (10) purposively selected CDWs during School Year 2025–2026. Data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, weighted mean, and Pearson product-moment correlation at the 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that the respondents were highly ready in their understanding of the ECCD curriculum (WM = 4.28) and in pedagogical skills and instructional practices (WM = 4.28), but only moderately ready in terms of resources and materials (WM = 3.80) and support, supervision, and professional development (WM = 3.84). Challenges were generally moderate, with insufficient toys and learning materials, varied learning needs of children, and heavy workload and administrative tasks emerging as the most notable concerns. ECCD-related training showed a strong, significant positive relationship with readiness (r = 0.795, p = 0.006), whereas age, educational attainment, and years of experience were not significantly related to readiness, no profile variable was significantly related to the challenges encountered, and readiness was not significantly related to challenges (r = 0.081, p = 0.824). The study concludes that while CDWs are generally prepared to implement the ECCD Curriculum, their effectiveness is constrained by largely systemic and environmental challenges. These findings imply the need for continuous professional development combined with improved resource allocation, reduced administrative workload, strengthened institutional support, and stronger collaboration among local government units, parents, and community stakeholders.