Beverly Anderson -Manley
THERE ARE 313,656 children aged 0 to 5 years old in Jamaica. This number represents 12% of our total population of 2.7 million persons. How much do we know about these children - how many are boys; how many are girls? How many live in poverty or chronic poverty? How many live on the poverty line, or just above the poverty line? How many live in households that are headed by females? By females and males? By males? What do we really know about them? We should have these facts at our fingertips!
CHILD MONTH
As we observe Child Month, let us consider that what we do to these children in this critical age group determine to a large extent the grown-ups they will become later in life. If we take a look at the adults we are turning out today, we can begin to see the high levels of co-relation between what happened to them in their critical early childhood years and their later years.
High levels of anti-social behaviour in our schools for example are determined by the particular types of learned behaviour that were instilled in our children during their early years both in the so-called private and public spheres. This is when children really learn.
But how do we get policy makers to act in ways that make a fundamental difference in this critical area. This is not to deny the creation of the Early Childhood Commission and Child Development agency, the signing of conventions, the raft of social legislation as well as increased budgetary support that has taken place, particularly over the last decade. Here congratulations are due to all the agencies involved in Early Childhood Education and in particular, the selfless work carried out by communities, school boards, funders and teachers in these schools.
THE CHASE FUND
Recognition is also due to the CHASE Fund for the provision of $217million for building or upgrading basic schools or resource centres; $44 million for the training of Early Childhood Practitioners and $66 million for nutritional support - as reiterated in the Governor-General's Throne Speech last week. This speech also accurately locates Early Childhood Education within the parameters of Government's anti-poverty reduction policies and programmes.
This is necessary but definitely not sufficient. Dr. Maureen Samms-Vaughan, executive chairman of the Early Childhood Commission in a wide-ranging lecture for the GraceKennedy Foundation Lecture series (2006) - "Children Caught In The Crossfire" emphasises the co-relation between poverty and child development:
" ... Jamaican children make up a half of the total population of Jamaicans living in poverty, while comprising only 39 per cent of the population. In reality, child poverty rates are somewhat higher than adult poverty rates as poor families have more children".
Why can't the entire society be mobilised around this issue of Early Childhood Development? This along with community development and poverty eradication combine three priority areas of the Simpson Miller administration. In partnering with the community, the Government must take the lead and the responsibility for this area. It is difficult for communities to be equal partners with Government on these critical issues - no matter how fantastic a job they have done so far. Communities must continue to help but Government must take full responsibility and invest in this age group.
As Saams Vaughn notes: " ... the interventions in this period, whether from early stimulation through home visiting programmes, or the provision of quality early childhood environments have effects that persist throughout childhood and into adulthood. The financial evidence of cost-benefit analysis also supports the majority of childhood investments being made during this period".
The situation is so urgent that we need to move from a gradualist to a more revolutionary approach. The impact of a successful early childhood programme will be seen not only in this generation but for generations yet unborn. Without powerful interventions at this level by the Government, the society will continue to reap the whirlwind that is now being manifested.
Beverley Anderson-Manley is a political scientist and gender specialist. Email: BManley@kasnet.com
