(EMU) – St. Kitts, February 20th, 2019 -- In collaboration with UNICEF, the Ministry of Education, particularly the Early Childhood Development Unit (ECDU) has undertaken the initiative to review the operational documents that govern all facilities within the ECDU Sector.
A consultative workshop is currently being conducted at the NEMA Conference Room daily to sensitize stakeholders and conduct a comprehensive review of the policy framework, minimum standards and operational standards draft documents. The three-day workshop will run from Wednesday 20th – Friday 22nd February.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Acting Director of the ECDU, Ms. Rosalind Warner hinted that the changes made thus far to the documents will affect everyone in the sector, specifically those in administration. “The changes are geared towards the standardization of the provision of early childhood care and education within the Federation. It will also assist in the establishing of the early childhood services as a professional and effective organization.”
She added that once properly adhered to, the documents will provide a level of consistency amongst the staff, parents and children. “We will be improving the effective management in the early childhood sector within the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.”
Quality of care is of prime importance for the new Early Childhood Policy stated, consultant and Senior Assistant Secretary, Dr. Tricia Esdaille, she explained, “We now know that from infancy to age five is a period of massive growth and children need to be stimulated properly to maximize their growth and development during that period.” She continued, “We are working on a policy to provide guidance to the sector because there is a need to provide structure for how the sector should regulate itself and that’s what the policy is intended to do. There must be standards for care and education within the sector.”
Once finalized and implemented the policy framework, minimum standards and operational standards documents will provide the framework for all child care providers and will offer the necessary guidelines for ensuring quality service in early childhood education.
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