ECC Hosts Annual PDI from May 20-24

The Early Childhood Commission (ECC) will host its fifth annual Professional Development Institute (PDI), from May 20 to 24, at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston.

This year’s theme, ‘A Place to Belong, a Child’s Right to Quality Early Childhood Education’, underscores the ECC’s commitment to providing accessible, high-quality early childhood development services in accordance with Jamaican law.

A flagship event dedicated to enhancing early-childhood education practices in Jamaica, the PDI is scheduled to run for five days.

Addressing May 15th, JIS Think Tank, Director of Cross Sectoral Coordination at the ECC, Michelle Campbell, said that this flagship event will bring together a diverse array of stakeholders, including early-childhood practitioners, teachers (grades one to three), special education practitioners, parents and community members.

With a focus on fostering collaboration and innovation, the PDI offers a platform for participants to exchange ideas, engage in professional development workshops, and explore best practices in early-childhood education.

Special guest speaker will be President of the World Organisation for Early Childhood Education, Mercedes Mayol Lassalle.

Mrs. Campbell outlined the holistic approach taken in designing this year’s event. “We’ve carefully crafted a programme that addresses the various facets of early-childhood education, from the home environment to formal educational institutions,” she noted.

“Our goal is to create a nurturing environment where every child feels a sense of belonging and receives the support they need to thrive,” she added.

The PDI features a rich lineup of sessions, with more than 28 workshops daily and sessions covering key themes such as parenting, arts education, STEM learning, early learning and care, as well as leadership and advocacy.

Participants will have the opportunity to interact with experts, exchange insights, and gain practical tools to enhance their practices.

One of the highlights of this year’s PDI is the active involvement of children.

According to Mrs. Campbell, it is important to incorporate children’s voices and perspectives.

In addition to workshops, the PDI will feature special presentations, including one by Sesame Street on social-emotional development.

Attendees will hear presenters from local tertiary institutions, The Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, South Africa and North America.

Areas of focus include Parenting, Early Learning and Care, Inclusion, STREAM, the Arts, Leadership and Advocacy.

The ECC is encouraging early-childhood practitioners and stakeholders across Jamaica to participate in this year’s PDI.

Together, they can contribute to building a brighter future for the nation’s children, ensuring they have the foundation they need to succeed in life.

Mrs. Campbell said that the event has garnered support from multiple sponsors.

Among them are the main sponsors – the Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund; Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF); United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Jamaica, and Barita Foundation.

For more information about the PDI and registration details, persons can visit the ECC website at www.ecc.gov.jm or contact the ECC directly.