Boosting Early Childhood Education – Brain Builder Centres

According to the Ministry of Education and Youth (MoEY), approximately 35,000 children are born in Jamaica each year, with just about half of them falling within the three-month to three-year age range. With this in mind, the Government of Jamaica (GOJ) is emphasising the importance of the first 1,000 days of a child’s life in shaping their cognitive development.

To align with the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2, 3, 4, and 16, which aim to prepare children for the future, the MoEY, through the Early Childhood Commission (ECC), has established Brain Builder Centres, which are initiatives of the Government of Jamaica’s Brain Builders Programme. The purpose of the programme is to reduce cognitive learning challenges among infants. This initiative centres around engaging infants in stimulating activities led by trained professionals.

Key Features

• Early Intervention for Optimum Development:

These centres have trained early childhood practitioners who conduct activities to stimulate and enhance motor skills, attention span, memory, and curiosity in young children. This support fosters cognitive, social, and physical growth and enables them to achieve important developmental milestones.

• Widening Access to Quality Education:

The GOJ is working to ensure that all children, regardless of socio-economic status, can access the quality learning and assessment resources through the Brain Builders programme.

• Comprehensive Support for Parents:

The centres provide support for parents, encompassing knowledge about child development, parenting education, healthcare, nutrition, early stimulation, and protection from violence and neglect, fostering a holistic approach to early childhood care and emphasising the significant influence of parenting on a child’s brain development.

Enrollment

Services at the Brain Builder Centres are currently available at no cost to parents who are encouraged to enroll their child or children in one of the 127 centres provided.

For additional information, contact:
Ministry of Education and Youth
2-4 National Heroes Circle
Kingston 4
Tel: 876-922-1400-9
Fax: 876-948-9132
Email: customerservice@moey.gov.jm
Website: www.moey.gov.jm
Facebook: @moeyijamaica
YouTube: @moe Jamaica