$30 Million for Early Intervention Programme

Some $30 million has been allocated by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information for an early intervention programme for young children and their mothers.

State Minister in the Ministry, Hon. Floyd Green, said the Ministry will be collaborating with the Ministries of Health, and Labour and Social Security for the implementation of the programme to provide stimulation for children before they enter the formal education system.

Mr. Green was making his 2016/17 Sectoral Debate presentation in the House of Representatives on June 8.

The programme is aimed at addressing nutritional and psychosocial gaps in children zero to three years, to result in better education and training outcomes.

“This Administration recognises the need to intervene in the lives of children even before they enter the formal early-childhood education system. This will go a far way in positively impacting the early brain development of children,” Mr. Green said.

A World Bank Implementation Support team, which recently concluded a week-long mission to the Early Childhood Commission and the Ministry, lauded Jamaica’s Early Childhood Development (ECD) Programme. The team noted that Jamaica is ahead of many other countries in providing ECD services from birth to age six.

The team also recommended greater coordination among the Ministries and Government agencies to ensure quality ECD services.

Meanwhile, among the initiatives being advanced by the Government for the development of the early-childhood system is the introduction of an assessment model for four-year-olds to help indentify special needs.

A 15 percent increase in the salaries for early-childhood practitioners has also been approved by Cabinet.