Fairness and Inclusion in Early Childhood Improvement had been excessive on the training agenda on the eighth Annual Regional Assembly of Early Childhood Improvement (ECD) Leaders held on October 23-24.
The assembly was convened by the Organisation of Japanese Caribbean States (OECS) Fee in collaboration with the UNICEF Japanese Caribbean Workplace on the Courtyard by Marriot in Bridgetown. It was the primary time ECD leaders all through the area met in particular person since Might 2019, following the COVID-19 pandemic, with the aim of growing a multisectoral method to ECD within the area.
The assembly was attended by officers inside the Well being, Particular Training Wants (SEN), Youngster Safety and Social Providers sectors and offered regional ECD leaders with a discussion board to evaluate the impression of the pandemic on the accessibility of high quality early childhood training providers within the area.
Regardless of the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic, guided by its 5 strategic priorities, the OECS Fee has maintained its work to strengthen training within the area. On the Eighth OECS Council of Ministers: Training held earlier this yr, Early Childhood Training to reinforce scholar studying was given precedence throughout the high-level discussions.
Moreover, via the Program for Instructional Development and Related Studying (OECS PEARL) the Fee has been advancing progress in the direction of the targets of the OECS Training Sector Technique (OESS) via elevated entry and improved scholar studying in primary training. For the previous two years (i.e., in 2022 and 2023), the OECS PEARL has convened an Early Childhood Training Leaders Discussion board to supply skilled improvement help to ECE Leaders in key areas and collectively develop methods for enhancing early childhood training within the 4 member states collaborating within the OECS PEARL.
In her ready welcome remarks, Head of the Human and Social Division on the OECS Fee, Mrs. Sisera Simon set the tone for the assembly with the next statements:
“Within the tender years of early childhood, each baby’s potential is a seed ready to sprout. Our obligation, as educators and advocates, is to make sure that this potential is nurtured and cultivated no matter background, capacity, or circumstance,” she remarked.
Elaborating additional, she said: “Fairness and inclusion stand because the cornerstones of this assembly, guiding us to create an surroundings the place each baby feels valued, revered, and empowered to discover the world……Allow us to champion the reason for each baby, offering them with equal alternatives to thrive and succeed. Collectively, via our collective efforts and unwavering dedication, we are able to sculpt a future the place each baby’s desires are legitimate and attainable.”
UNICEF Deputy Consultant for the Japanese Caribbean Space, Tanya Radosavljevic, mentioned the Eighth Annual Assembly of ECD leaders and the emphasis on multi-sectoral approaches to ECD was a important step in making certain that each baby within the sub-region receives the love, help and “nurturing care” essential to flourish.
“This method emphasises the very significance of constructive experiences within the very early years of a kid’s life, not solely as a result of it determines the capability to be taught and to earn, however as a result of it determines the impression on the well being, longevity and private and social adjustment,” mentioned Radosavljevic.
“If these foundations are sturdy, youngsters usually tend to survive, they’re extra prone to thrive, and they’re extra prone to attain their full potential,” she added.
The assembly addressed pertinent points equivalent to bettering the standard of service supply on the ECD stage, enabling components such because the convergence in coverage and apply inside the ECD sector, and adopting a extra holistic or multi-sectoral method to ECD. Moreover, the agenda for the eighth annual assembly included the presentation of the regional ECD report for 2021-22, discussions on fairness of entry to ECD providers, a assessment of the routine monitoring checklists for ECD and a panel dialogue that includes mother and father of younger youngsters. Individuals within the assembly additionally toured a mannequin ECD centres in Barbados throughout Day Two of the assembly.
The eighth Annual Regional Assembly of ECD Leaders has been the results of collaborative planning amongst employees on the OECS Fee and UNICEF, ECD Leaders from Ministries of Training of OECS Member States and from Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and Turks and Caicos. Key Improvement Companions who had been current and contributed to this assembly embody CARICOM, CDB, Fingers Throughout the Sea and USAID. Moreover, particular point out have to be made from the Ministry of Training in St. Vincent and the Grenadines which performed a major function within the preparations for this assembly.
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