Early childhood development guide
– Guyana launches national sensitisation workshop on Early Childhood Development
DPI, Guyana, Thursday, November 22, 2018
The Ministry of Education, with support from the Caribbean Development Bank, today launched the national sensitisation workshop on Caribbean Early Childhood Development
The Caribbean Early Childhood Development good practice guide was developed specifically for countries within the region. It was designed to assist education policymakers and practitioners in the field, to deliver quality care and learning experiences for children in Guyana and the Caribbean.
Minister of Education Dr. Nicolette Henry said the early education field needs well-conducted empirical studies upon which professional development practices will be based.
“The Ministry of Education is acting on this proven global and regional quantitative research, which demonstrates tangible results, by capturing and shaping a child’s early educational achievement in a safe and nurturing environment”.
She believes that such an environment is essential for changes in intelligence, personality and social behaviour.
Minister Henry noted that it is essential that the education sector sources its practice from the region as a “homogenous nature of our unique “Caribbeaness” and socioeconomic cultures”, which, she said, can be tackled in a practical manner.
The Education Minister emphasised the importance of investment in early education. As such, she said the knowledge, skills and practices of early childhood educators are important factors in the learning process.
“The government of Guyana understands this and that is why there is an unprecedented increase in investment including budgetary allocation in this sector, which I believe, we will reap the benefits from as a country, not only now, but in the future.”
The workshop is being facilitated by a development consultant from Grenada, Leon Charles and Sian Williams, out of Jamaica.
The two-day workshop is being attended by mostly educators of early childhood. Participants will explore, among other things, how principles can be applied to the specific national setting.
Alexis Rodney.
Images: Jameel Mohammed.