Ministry of Education & Youth

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Participants in the public education campaign for the registration of all early childhood institutions engage in a group discussion at a workshop, held by the Early Childhood Commission in Montego Bay on March 21.

Efforts to enhance the standard of Early Childhood Education in Jamaica got underway recently with the launch of an islandwide public education campaign, to sensitize all stakeholders in the system about the objectives of the new thrust.

With the aim of reaching all parents, teachers and members of school boards in all areas across the country by the end of April, workshops are being held in western Jamaica, under the theme: 'Start them right, make them bright'.

Member of the consultative committee of the public education campaign, Norma Hayles, who participated in a workshop at the John Joyce Basic School in Catherine Hall, Montego Bay on March 21, told JIS News that the exercise was very important in getting all stakeholders focused on the required goals and objectives of the system.

"I believe that the exercise is very important because everybody needs to be aware of what is expected of Early Childhood Education as we are in a transforming mode now, looking at moving ahead and trying to attain certain standards for optimal learning," Mrs. Hayles said.

"Research has shown that the best time for learning is early years. We must have teachers and the necessary facilities that will help in maximizing the children's potential. It means then that we need to look at the physical and learning environment and we have to look at the human resources where the teachers themselves must be on par and be up-to-date with the best current practices that they can help these young children to learn," she added.

She pointed out that the community also had a responsibility, as the school alone could not successfully accomplish the task without the establishment of a strong partnership between the two entities.

Education Officer for Region 4 in the Ministry of Education and Youth, Patricia Haughton, speaking to JIS News on the registration programme for all early childhood institutions across the island, said that the process was critical in ensuring that all students were recipients of quality education.

"The main focus of the registration process for early childhood institutions is to have all children accessing quality early childhood learning in a quality environment. Through the workshops that have been carried out so far, the majority of the participants have been adequately sensitized on the necessity of the registration, including the values and benefits that would be at their disposal as they unite in lifting the standards of the system",
Mrs. Haughton said.

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