GOVERNANCE, INTER-SECTORAL CO-ORDINATION AND FINANCING OF ECD IN JAMAICA

1. GOVERNANCE, INTER-SECTORAL CO-ORDINATION AND FINANCING OF ECD IN JAMAICA Organisation of American States Meeting Maureen Samms-Vaughan May, 15, 2007

3. Standard – Staff

4. JAMAICA • Population of 2.7 million • Over 400,000 children birth to 8 years • Children 0-8 form 17.4% of total population and 49% of childhood population

5. Current Status of ECDEducation Indicators • 96% of children 3-5 years enrolled in ECD programme • 88% of these programmes privately owned, 12% government run • Less accurate data for 0-3 years • Less than 10% of children in ECD

6. Current Status of ECDHealth Indicators • Under 5 mortality rate decreased by one third since 1996 • Immunisation rates in excess of 90% • Falling undernutrition rates Stunting : 3.6% Wasting : 2.4% • Obesity now a concern: 5-7% of 5 year olds

7. BRIEF HISTORY OF ECE IN JAMAICA

8. The Beginning: Meeting Community needs • Formal EC services began in Jamaica in the 1930’s • Women were needed to work on plantations • There was no safe place for their children • First school was organised by a church

9. The Proliferation • Community demand grew • Schools for 3-5 year olds mushroomed throughout the country • Many with the support of community churches / Other private sector groups

10. The Advocacy • In the 1940’s, early childhood advocates lobbied the government to have an input • It was to take 10 years

11. The Recognition • In 1950, first supervisor for infant schools appointed by the Ministry of Education • Next came the provision of government subsidies for schools which met certain criteria

12. The Quality • Quality concerns regarding teachers emerged first • In 1960’s first teacher training programmes for caregivers developed • More general concerns regarding quality of the environments • 1996 saw the development of the first standards document for pre-schools

13. The Integration • 1995 UNICEF Strategy Meeting, co-ordinated ECD programme first discussed • Pilot project developed guided by Integration Advisory Committee • Recommended integration of Day-Care and pre-schools • At about same time, review of EC sector commissioned by Planning Institute of Jamaica • Review identified much ECD activity, however, services poorly co-ordinated with duplication of effort and waste of resources • A national co-ordinating body for ECD recommended***

14. Regional Activities • 1997 Caribbean Plan of Action for ECD developed • To provide a comprehensive guideline for the planning, development and evaaluation of programmes to provide children with the best possible opportunity to learn and develop from the earliest stage

15. The Local Research(1999-2003)

16. Typical Pathway for the Poor Child I • Born to younger, less knowledgeable parents • Unstable parental relationship eventually leading to absent father in home and single motherhood • Child shifting • Parental stress • Harsh discipline

17. Typical Pathway for the Poor Child II • Less nourished • Poorer health • Less likely to read books • Less stimulating material in home • Parents less able to assist with stimulation and education • Poorer quality early childhood institutions

18. Research Overview I • Factors affecting outcome globally • Socio-economic status • Parental education • Parental stress • Reading books • Early childhood experience

19. Research Overview II • Factors affecting most outcomes • Nutritional status • Supervised activities • Home learning environment

20. Research Overview III • Efforts to improve child outcomes must be comprehensive • These efforts must begin early as time worsens effects

21. Reading Scores by No. of Possessions in Home:Pre-School to Grade 3

22. Teacher Reports of Aggressive Behaviour:Pre-School to Grade 3

23. The Current Status of ECD in Jamaica Where are we now?

24. Main Stakeholders of ECD programmes • 400,000 children 0-8 years • Parents and family members • 2,700 Schools/ Day Care for children 0-5 years • 5,000 Early Childhood teachers • 80 Education Officers • Training Institutions • Early Childhood Unit • Numerous sponsors and supporters: Churches, Private Sector, NGO’s • IDPs : UNICEF, IDB, World Bank • Early Childhood Commission

25. The Early Childhood Commission (ECC) • The Early Childhood Commission established by an Act of Parliament in 2003 • Received strong bi-partisan support for its establishment • Chairman appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister and with the support of the Leader of the Opposition

26. Legislated Functions of ECC I • Advise the Cabinet through the MOE on policy matters relating to ECD, including initiatives and actions to achieve national ECD goals • Assist in preparation of plans and programmes concerning ECD • Monitor and evaluate implementation of plans for ECD and make recommendations to the Govt. • Act as a co-ordinating agency to streamline ECD activities

27. Legislated Functions of ECC II • Convene consultations with relevant stakeholders • Analyse resource needs and make recommendations for budgetary allocations for ECD • Identify alternative financing through negotiation with donor agencies and liase with donor agencies to ensure efficient and effective use of donor funds • Regulate early childhood institutions • Conduct research on ECD

28. ECC Mission Statement An integrated and co-ordinated delivery of quality early childhood programmes and services, which provide equity and access for children 0-8 years within healthy, safe and nurturing environments.

29. Structure of ECC IBoard of Management • Chairman • Executive Director • Child specialists - Paediatrics - Nursing - Mental Health - Child Development - Nutrition - Education • Ministry Representatives - Health - Education -Local Govt. - Labour - Finance • Disability group Rep • PIOJ Rep Private Sector Rep. • CDA Rep Parenting Organisation Rep • JECA Disability group Rep • Opposition Party Rep

30. Structure of ECC IIOperational Arm • Executive Director and AA to ED • Director of Finance and Accounting Clerk • Systems Administrator • Co-ordinators*- Regulation & Monitoring - Training & Development - Community Intervention (Parenting) - Public Education & Information - Research & Targetting • Receptionist & Filing Clerk • Support Staff: Driver & Office Attendant * Sub-Committees of Board act as advisory bodies

31. Regulation and Monitoring Objective: To develop a legal and regulatory framework for ECI

32. Regulation and Monitoring:Accomplishments I • Passage of The Early Childhood Act and the Early Childhood Regulations (2004) • Development of Standards documents with 12 standards for early childhood institutions and performance criteria - Staff - Programme - Behaviour Management - Physical Environment - Equipment & Furnishings - Health - Nutrition - Safety - Child Rights/Protection - Parent Participation - Administration - Finance

33. Standard 3 – Interactions with Children

34. Standard 3 – Interactions with Children • Standard Statement: Early childhood staff has the characteristics training, knowledge, skills and attitude to promote positive behaviours and reduce difficult and challenging behaviours in children • Rationale: Even in these early years children are already beginning to understand their own emotions and behaviour as well as those of the people they interact with every day. In fact, many children imitate the behaviour of the older children and adults around them. The staff of the ECI is responsible for creating a caring and positive environment that encourages good behaviour in children

35. Standard 3 - Requirements • The ECI staff is pleasant and caring; respects and values children as individuals and helps them to develop self-esteem. • The ECI staff responds appropriately to children’s affections and responds promptly to their hurt and distress • The staff encourages children to express their emotions in positive ways and assists children to understand other people’s emotions. • Staff encourage children to use good manners and assist children in learning to work with each other as well as to be independent • No form of physical punishment is allowed in ECIs, including slapping, pinching, shaking and putting in unusual positions etc. • No form of emotional abuse or neglect is to be used to discipline children. Only appropriate forms of discipline e.g. time out, are allowed in ECIs.

36. SELF-ASSESSMENT / MONITORING DOCUMENT

37. Regulation and Monitoring:In Progress: • Development Plan to assist institutions to attain registration status • Development of a nutrition programme for ECIs to contribute to national school feeding policy. • Development of an ECD Strategic Plan, ECD Policy and National Plan of Action

38. Training and Development Objective: To develop a cadre of trained personnel for EC sector and ensure an appropriate child centred early childhood curriculum

39. Training and Development:Accomplishments • MOU signed between ECC and NCTVET for the development of revised training programmes (Levels I & 2) and new programmes (Level 3) • Annual National (Regional) conference on ECD bringing health, education, social, legal etc. personnel together to educate and co-ordinate ECD activities • Hosting of in service training conferences for EC practitioners and EC Education officers - Legal & Regulatory Framework - HIV/AIDS & Violence in ECI - Screening & Early Identification

40. Training and Development:In Progress: • Development of career path in ECD, through articulation of programmes (JBTE) • Development of a licensing system for ECD practitioners • Manpower survey to plan training needs • Development of EC Curriculum (DGMT) • Development of Inspector Training Programme

41. Community Intervention Objective: To co-ordinate and develop EC programmes at a community level

42. Community Intervention I(Focussed on Parenting) Accomplishments: • Establishment of multiagency, multi-sectoral parenting sub-committee • Collation of information on parenting programmes to identify gaps and make recommendations .

43. Community Intervention II(Focussed on Parenting) In Progress • Development of parenting policy • Identification and analysis of existing parenting programmes with a view to making recommendations • Development of parenting trainer programmes (PP) • Development of strategy to reduce corporal punishment use at home and school • Establishment of PTAs • Establishment of a governance system for ECI • Taking to Scale the Roving Caregivers Prog.

44. Public Education and Information Objective: To provide the public with information on ECD and on the work of the ECC

45. Public Education & Information I Accomplishments • Numerous public fora organised / participated in to sensitise public to ECD (n=8,000) • Multiple messages aired on radio • Multiple articles in print media • Public education programme regarding registration of ECIs: 200 communities, 10,000 persons

46. Public Education & Information II In Progress • Production of quarterly newsletter for practitioners • Development of ECD material for parents • Development of plans for Media Workshop to encourage highlighting of ECD • Development of GIS system (EBSP) • Develop strategies to increase participation of corporate Jamaica and NGO’s in the ECD • Encourage establishment of Day Care and After School Care for public and private sector employees and at tertiary institutions

47. Research & Targetting Objective: To provide accurate information on ECD for effective planning

48. Research and Targetting Accomplishments • Development and funding of proposals to support ECD programmes (J$ 10 million, US $ 500,000) - Evaluation of screening tools for early identification - Evaluation of pre-school readiness test - Development of professional programmes to support national screening programme

49. Research and Targetting:In Progress • Development of ECD Indicators for monitoring purposes • National Survey of ECI • WB Grant: -Determine type of care received by 0-3 - Feasibility of including ECD in well care clinics - Cost of making ECI accessible to children with disabilities - Feasibility of cash transfer system - Determination of cost of ECD services - Development of governance and policy framework for ECD

50. Financing of ECD programmes Objective: To analyse resource needs, make budgetary recommendations and identify alternative funding for ECD