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EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CARE AND DEVELOPMENT ON SAINT LUCIA

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CARE AND DEVELOPMENT ON SAINT LUCIA. Early Childhood Education Care & Development in Saint Lucia evolved from the traditional public school system. . Pattern of Growth.

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EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CARE AND DEVELOPMENT ON SAINT LUCIA

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  1. EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CARE AND DEVELOPMENT ON SAINT LUCIA • Early Childhood Education Care & Development in Saint Lucia evolved from the traditional public school system.

  2. Pattern of Growth • 1976 - Canada Save the Children Fund submits proposal to Minister of Community Development to make community centres available for preschools and learning play groups. • 1979 – U.N.I.C.E.F. responds to government’s request for assistance with the expansion and strengthening of Early Childhood Programmes by funding three year programmme focusing on educating and developing children from birth to five years. • Establishment of six (6) government sponsored Daycare/Preschool Centres.

  3. 1980 – Centres catering to the children of agricultural workers,operated by Ministry of Community Development became fully operational. These were located 4-19 miles from Castries , the capital and ctered to children between the ages of 18 months and 5 years. • 1982 – Sixty-six (66) centres, sixty (60) private and six (6) government established to serve approximately three thousand (3000) children. • 1982 to 1999 – Steady increase in the number of of early childhood centres. • 1999 to Present – Total number of early childhood centres increased to 106 privately owned preschools, 18 government owned daycares and 15 private.

  4. Early Childhood Partnerships • Over the years the Early Childhood Education Sector has had numerous Partners: • CANSAVE, • UNICEF • UNESCO

  5. Locally, Poverty Reduction Fund (PRF) and Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF) have joined the partnership. • Most importantly, parents/guardians are taking increased interest and responsibility in the development of their children.

  6. Administrative Operations • Early Childhood Education at present is under the purview of two separate Ministries. .

  7. DAYCARE SERVICESis governed under the Ministry of Social Transformation, Culture and Local Government.

  8. PRESCHOOL SERVICES is governed by the Ministry of Education, Human Resource Development, Youth & Sports.

  9. Daycare Services is charged with the responsibility of children from birth to three years. Preschool Services is charged with the responsibility of children from three to five years.

  10. Daycare and Preschool services are collaborative partners in the administration, management of service, operation and delivery of the Early Childhood Care & Development Sector.

  11. Current Trends in Early Childhood Education • Development and introduction of Policy and Minimum Standards of Operation to guide the growth of the sector. • Professionalization of the sector through introduction of NCTVET certification of practitioners. • Introduction of cluster groupings to encourage collegiality and to • motivate practitioners towards individual,collective professional growth. • Increased monitoring and supervision of centres at the local level. • Strides towards a seamless transition from the early childhood sector to the public school system for children and their families

  12. Collaboration with other agencies for the advancement of • programmes and services for children with Special Needs and • their families. • Implementation of community outreach programmes with a heavy focus on family interventions and early stimulation and advocacy. • Specialised programming to facilitate / engender and encourage the inclusion of fathers and male role models in early childhood education care and development programming and parenting. • Consideration and provision for HIV/AIDS awareness in early childhood programming.

  13. Why these approaches? • To ensure that the traditional approach of schooling is replaced by novel,research based methods which give consideration to individual differences ,inclusion, theories of learning and participation of all stakeholders in the holistic development of the child.

  14. This philosophy is based on the VISION which guides Saint Lucia’s Policy on Early Childhood Education, “EVERY CHILD IN SAINT LUCIA SHALL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP HIS/HER FULL POTENTIAL BY BEING PROVIDED WITH A SOUND START TO LIFE”.

  15. Saint Lucia is presently paying homage to its youngest citizens through the observance of “Year of the child” (Oct.2003 – Nov.2004). According to Goldschmied & Jackson (1994) “A society can be judged by its attitude to its youngest citizens not only what is said about them but how this attitude is expressed in what is offered to them as they grow up.”

  16. The Way Forward…

  17. To ensure that every effort is made to provide that quality of early childhood programming which will facilitate the development and empowerment of all children and their families, making them citizens who … • Are ready to learn. • Will stay in school • Are aware of their civic responsibilities • Will make a positive contribution to the development of their society/ community and the wider world.

  18. REMEMBER….. • Children need strength to lean on, a shoulder to cry on and an example to learn from.

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