ECC Gets $4 Million to Assist Early Childhood Institutions

The Early Childhood Commission (ECC) of the Ministry of Education has received $4 million to be used for infrastructure development and maintenance of selected early childhood institutions.

Among the schools are: Calaloo Meadows Basic, St. Andrew; Boscobel Basic, St. Mary; Fern Grove Basic, St. Ann; Mango Hall Basic, Westmoreland; Santa Cruz Early Childhood Institution, St. Elizabeth, and Harvest Time Basic, St. Catherine.

The cheques, which were presented to the ECC by the Project for the Advancement of Childhood Education (PACE) Canada on February 12, amount to CAD$39,781.04 and will be disbursed to 98 basic schools across the island.

The presentation, which was made at the ECC headquarters in Downtown, Kingston, is a continuation of the longstanding partnership between the ECC and PACE, Canada.

Director of Sector Support Services at the ECC, Michelle Campbell, who accepted the cheques, welcomed the continued support of PACE and described the partnership between the ECC and PACE as a positive and fruitful relationship.

“Through a collaborative effort, both parties have been able to assist the children at the early childhood level to realize their true educational potential,” she said.

The partnership is aimed at helping institutions to attain the 12 standards set by the ECC under the Early Childhood Act of 2005 and the Early Childhood Regulations of 2005 to ensure that high quality education is delivered at the early childhood level.

These cover the areas of: staffing; development of educational programmes; (adult) interactions and relationships with children; physical environment; indoor and outdoor equipment; furnishings and supplies; health; nutrition; safety; child rights; protection and equality; interactions with parents and community members; administration and finance. P.A.C.E currently sponsors 300 basic schools in Jamaica.

Chair of PACE Canada’s Adopt-A-School Programme, Diana Burke, who made the presentation on behalf of PACE Canada, said she is very impressed with  Jamaica’s commitment to early childhood education.

President of PACE, Canada, Sandra Whiting, said the organization remains committed to assisting the basic schools in Jamaica to give children a strong foundation in education.

It is expected that PACE will be making another presentation of cheques to the ECC later this year.