ECC Urges Parents Not to Send Children to Unregulated ECIs

The Early Childhood Commission (ECC) is appealing to parents and guardians not to send their children to unregulated early-childhood institutions (ECIs).

Addressing a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Think Tank today (January 30), Director of Regulations and Monitoring at the ECC, Dr. Tracy-Ann Morgan-Smith, said this practice puts the children and nation at risk.

She pointed out that the greatest challenge with the children being at risk comes from these institutions operating in obscure areas such as a person’s backyard.

She is urging parents, guardians and the public in general to make a report to the ECC if they observe unregulated operations of ECIs.

According to Dr. Morgan-Smith, the ECC, by law, has the authority to investigate any report it receives.

There are 2,431 ECIs operating in Jamaica, with a 96 per cent compliance application for registration.

Eighty-six institutions have not applied for a certificate of registration.

The three facility types of ECIs are 431 infant departments owned by the Government of Jamaica; 491 privately run institutions; and 1,509 public/private schools, community and church-based institutions.

Dr. Morgan-Smith said the ECC monitors these ECIs using a system of inspection.

“ECIs are inspected against the 12 National Standards, which are based on global best practices and research, and against the benchmark of what is best for early-childhood students to develop in all their domain,” she explained.

The standards focus on staffing, which has to do with the quality of teachers and their qualifications; development and educational programmes that are offered to children to help them to develop in their total domain; interactions within the environment with children; physical layout and space; furnishing equipment and supplies; health, nutrition and safety; interaction with parents and community; administration, and finance.

“The 12 Standards represent the overall operation of an institution and the environment in which the child is in and what are the things needed for this child to develop holistically,” Dr. Morgan-Smith stated.

The Early Childhood Act and Regulations of 2005 mandate all early-childhood institutions in Jamaica to make an application for a certificate of registration at the ECC.

The ECC has responsibility nationally for all ECIs, to include daycares, nurseries, kindergartens, preschools, infant schools, infant departments, basic schools and all other early-childhood centres operating in Jamaica.