Regions 4, 6 and 10 targeted on Childcare Development
– 7,639 children under age 3, benefit from paid childcare services in Guyana
– training sessions will be held for eight weeks
– childcare providers will be provided with improved knowledge and communication skills
– service provides urged to engaged themselves into training programme
– 90 childcare service providers will be trained across four regions
– childcare service, big business
DPI, Guyana, Wednesday, April 3, 2019.
The Ministry of Social Protection is seeking to provide further training for childcare service providers across several regions.
On Wednesday, thirty Region 4 childcare service providers began an eight-week training programme that was launched by the Ministry of Social Protection, the Board of Industrial Training, UNICEF and the Guyana Industrial Training Centre (GITC).
It will be held at GITC’s Institute and applicants will be certified upon completion of the programme.
Childcare and Protection Agency, Early-Childhood Development, Executive Officer, Lavern Thorne said that the focus is to improve the communication skills of service providers and boost quality care for young children.
“The quality of interactions between parent or caregiver and the child is of utmost importance to their social, emotional, physical and intellectual development.”
Thorne said it is important that caregivers understand the various aspects of child development. She stressed that out of 800 caregivers, more than 600 in Guyana are without early childhood development training.
“Our main focus is to protect and invest in early childhood and therefore, we will focus on all caregivers to offer their best, so that our children can reach their full potential,” she noted.
UNICEF Guyana, Education Specialist, Audrey Michelle said that one of the agency’s mandates is to improve childcare services throughout Guyana.
“We invest in the technical support, not just the funding, we want the right environment for children of Guyana. A child’s growth can be hindered due to a toxic environment.”
Michelle added that Guyanese should adhere to the legislation and regulations for childcare services.
The childcare service providers were urged to engage in the training programme to sharpen their skills for their Centers, Communities and the Country at large.
After the first training session, thirty caregivers from Regions 6 and 10, respectively, will be provided with similar training. The other programmes are expected to begin at the end of the eight-week duration.
The Early Childhood Development Unit (ECDU), established more than three years ago, has made significant strides in ensuring that childcare centres improve the safety and delivery of service to the nation’s children.
The unit came into being in 2014 but the regulations which govern the unit were laid in the National Assembly in 2016 and enacted on May 4, 2016. The strict guidelines in fulfilling the unit’s mandate fall under the Protection of Children Act (2009), the Childcare Development Services Act (2011) and other laws to ensure the safety of children in care facilities.
Ayana George.
Images: Jules Gibson.