January 7, 2019:
The Early Childhood Commission wishes all Early Childhood Institutions (ECIs) a safe and productive Easter term as school officially resumes.
The Commission remains steadfast in its mandate to provide quality early childhood programmes, services and learning environments for children 0-8 years. The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information (MoEYI) through the ECC is continuing to partner with ECIs across the island to create Brain Builder Centres (BBCs).
The BBC initiative is the government’s commitment to the importance of the first 1,000 days of a child’s life. Through the provision of high quality day care facilities, the initiative seeks to enhance early stimulation, improve nutrition and safety through the use of a specially designed curriculum for the 0-3 cohort, delivered by well trained teachers/care-givers to all Jamaica’s children.
The MoEYI supports the BBCs through additional funding for trained teachers and care givers to maintain the legally required ratios of child to care-giver, cooks to provide nutritious meals and providing general and special grants for early stimulation resources.
Additionally, through the ECC’s Zone Lead Teachers Programme, practitioners will be trained to provide support for their peers to assist with comprehensive programmes to meet school readiness and other needs of children. The mentorship component of the programme will help ECIs to meet certification standards.
-30-