Education Ministry Welcomes Partnerships to Help ECIs

Executive Director of the National Parenting Support Commission (NPSC), Dr. Patrece Charles-Freeman, says the Education Ministry welcomes partnerships to help improve the facilities of early childhood institutions (ECIs).

          She pointed out that 2,503 of 2,715 ECIs have applied for certification from the Early Childhood Commission (ECC), and  of that number, only 11 have so far  attained the standards for  certification.

            “One of the hindrances to achieving certification status is the standard of the physical facilities. Hence, the Ministry welcomes partnerships with charitable organisations in modernising ECI plants,” Dr. Charles-Freeman said.

          She was speaking at the launch of the Kiwanis Club of New Kingston’s spelling event, ‘Little Bee Competition’, at the Police Officers Club, Hope Road, on March 30.

            Representing Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, Dr. Charles-Freeman commended the Kiwanis movement for its contribution towards the development of  children in educational institutions across the island.

            She noted that the Little Bee Competition is an example of the type of developmental programmes for children undertaken by the Kiwanis movement.

            “This project underscores the value of early stimulation and the development of social (and) interpersonal skills, as these little ones interact with each other from different schools. It is important that as they participate in this competition, they do so in a way that ensures that they have fun,” Dr. Charles-Freeman said.

            The Executive Director  said the Ministry  is pleased that the project is supporting several ECIs,  as “support for them is critical if they are to meet the required standards of the Early Childhood Commission.”

For her part, Bulletin Editor at the Kiwanis Club of New Kingston, Merdina Callum, explained that the competition is aimed at improving the spelling and literacy skills of four and five-year-old children in basic schools.

            “The words are selected in collaboration with the Early Childhood Unit of the Ministry of Education, so that the appropriate level of difficulty is achieved. All the children in the schools can therefore benefit from the use of the booklets (provided),” Ms. Callum said.

            The spell off for the competition will be held on April 23, with the finals set for  May 25.