CHARKESTOWN, Nevis – JUNIOR MINISTER of Education in the Nevis Island Administration, Troy Liburd is calling on parents and families to accept the responsibility of committing time, energy and resources needed for good parenting.
Minister Liburd, in a speech to kickstart Child Month on Nevis, explained that the island is fortunate to have a comprehensive system of early childhood services, to have developed and implemented policies that recognise the childhood experience as a major determinant of a child’s later success or risk of failure.
The Minister pointed to four public centres and 22 registered private centres that offer early childhood services as a means to aid in early childhood development.
“We have active parent-teachers associations at these institutions that help to foster that partnership between parents and institutions.”
He added that keen attention is given to training for teachers and caregivers at institutions such as the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC), where an Early Childhood Associates Degree Programme is offered.
“We have seen a number of individuals go off to get degrees at the Bachelor’s level in Early Childhood Education. All of these serve to improve the quality of early childhood education.”
Minister Liburd said a number of projects and programmes geared toward the improvement of early learning have been ongoing, including: Reaching the Unreached Programme; Servol Training for Early Childhood Practitioners; Revised Policy, Minimum Standards and Operation Manual; and Early Childhood Curriculum (High Scope).
As the island commemorates the 35th anniversary of Child Month celebrations, the Minister is encouraging people to support the early childhood centres and their children in the various activities.
“We invite you to join us for the Child Month Church Service on June 2. We also look forward to the Annual Parade on June 7, Dancing with the Stars on June 5, the virtues-based Prince and Princess Show on June 14 and the various parent sensitisation sessions.”
“My friends, if we truly believe that the children are the future, then let us take time out to show them love and attention, to nurture them, to train them in the way they should go so that when they are grown they do not depart from it,” Liburd added.
The theme for this year’s Child Month is ‘Celebrating our Progress as a Nation’.
.jpg)