By Byron McDaniel, Gleaner WriterWALDERSTON, Manchester:
THE GOVERNMENT of Jamaica has embarked on a new programme for early childhood development (ECD) with joint funding from the Caribbean Development Bank.
This includes a three-and-a-half-year-year project currently under way to construct model basic schools and resource centres islandwide.
According to Dr. Madge Linton, the director of ECD in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture, 23 new/upgraded basic schools and 11 resource centres will focus on the holistic development of the child, providing for the physiological, physical, social, emotional, spiritual, cognitive, language, health and nutritional needs of the birth to six years old cohort.
ENHANCEMENT
Dr. Linton, who was addressing representatives of tiers of stakeholders in ECD at a forum at the Golf View Hotel in Mandeville, Manchester, on November 12 expounded on the 'enhancement of basic schools' project.
She was accompanied by members of her management team, including Keith Samuda, project manager, Joan Smith, Freda Thomas and other technical
personnel.
Making opening presentations were regional director, Reverend Rueben Gray, and Eleanor Senior, head of the regional ECD.
They presented various aspects of ECD, such as the certification of early childhood practitioners, training, a legislative framework for improving management and service delivery, furniture, play equipment, and teaching/learning materials to support delivery of the curriculum for the development of young children.
Legislative support through a recently enacted Early Childhood Commission Act will involve an inter-ministerial and inter-sectoral body which will impact on five ministries education, health, local government, social security, finance and planning.
The Early Child-hood Act governs the operations of early childhood institutions, operational guidelines, training and certification.
There will be public education and participation of communities and parents to deepen the partnership between government and the community, which has contributed to, and secured for Jamaica a 95 per cent access rate for basic school children.
A regulated early childhood sub-sector will have a desired ratio of one adult to 25 children, more trained practitioners, improved access to computers and allow for an enhanced learning environment.
