Stakeholders Pledge Continued Support for Early-Childhood Development

Several public- and private-sector stakeholders have given their commitment to strengthening partnerships with the Early Childhood Commission (ECC) for the development of the sector.

At a planning forum held recently at The Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston, several representatives pledged to continue their support of the ECC’s mission for “an integrated and coordinated delivery of early-childhood programmes and services, which provide equity and access for children birth to eight years old within healthy, safe and nurturing environments”.

They also indicated their support for the ECC to have more institutions certified. The ECC has set a target for 100 early-childhood institutions (ECIs) to be certified by August 2017.

Chairman of the ECC, Trisha Williams-Singh, who addressed the forum, expressed her gratitude to the various partners and stakeholders and encouraged them to continue supporting the entity’s objectives.

“We are working with a five-year strategic plan to have more ECIs certified and we are confident that with your help we can achieve this target and address other priority areas in early-childhood development,” she said.

President of the Rockhouse Foundation, Peter Rose, in his remarks, pointed to the need for greater communication between public- and private-sector entities.
He urged the ECC to be mindful of other priorities, such as how school boards are governed.

His sentiments were echoed by Projects Manager at the Sandals Foundation, Sydney Henry, who said there has to be greater cross-sector collaboration, particularly in the rationalisation of ECIs.

Mrs. Williams-Singh explained that the process to rationalise some ECIs to form government-operated infant departments and schools, is in an effort to ensure more children have access to quality education, provided by trained teachers.

“This will also allow for greater targeted assistance to early-childhood institutions to meet certification standards,” she pointed out.

The ECC, which is an agency of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, coordinates all activities, development plans and programmes within the early-childhood sector.