GRENADAGRENADA

EARLY CHILDHOOD EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATIONEDUCATION

EARLY CHILDHOOD EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATIONEDUCATION• Birth to 8 yearsBirth to 8 years

• Government established programmes for Government established programmes for each of the three phases in early childhood:each of the three phases in early childhood:– Birth–3 in day care centresBirth–3 in day care centres– 3-5 in pre-schools3-5 in pre-schools– 5-7 in primary schools5-7 in primary schools

• Programmes are monitored & supported by Programmes are monitored & supported by the Day Care Coordinator & Early Childhood the Day Care Coordinator & Early Childhood OfficersOfficers

AVAILABILITY OF ECEAVAILABILITY OF ECE

• ECE provided by government & ECE provided by government & private sectorprivate sector

• 74 public pre-schools 74 public pre-schools

• Approx. 25 private preschoolsApprox. 25 private preschools

• There are pre-school departments There are pre-school departments housed in some of the primary housed in some of the primary schoolsschools

DAY CAREDAY CARE• The Ministry of Social Development is The Ministry of Social Development is

responsible for the Day Care (0-3)responsible for the Day Care (0-3)– Public Day Care Services introduced in 1958Public Day Care Services introduced in 1958– Presently more than 15 centres are Presently more than 15 centres are

operatingoperating– Training is provided by the government for Training is provided by the government for

the caregiversthe caregivers– Roving Caregivers Programme: the Roving Caregivers Programme: the

caregivers work with the children & their caregivers work with the children & their parents/guardians in their homesparents/guardians in their homes

PRE-SCHOOLPRE-SCHOOL• The Ministry of Education responsible for The Ministry of Education responsible for

the Pre-School (3-5)the Pre-School (3-5)• 1962 introduced as a private venture, 1962 introduced as a private venture,

assisted by government assisted by government • 1980s government included pre school 1980s government included pre school

education in the national primary education in the national primary education system education system

• Mission: to provide pre-school education for Mission: to provide pre-school education for 3-5 year olds that will promote all-round 3-5 year olds that will promote all-round developmentdevelopment

• Curriculum: developed byEarly Childhood Curriculum: developed byEarly Childhood Unit of the M of E – thematic approachUnit of the M of E – thematic approach

TEACHERSTEACHERS

• 146 teachers – all female146 teachers – all female

• Formal training at the Community CollegeFormal training at the Community College

• Specialised training in TrinidadSpecialised training in Trinidad

• Receive on the spot training by ECE Receive on the spot training by ECE SupervisorsSupervisors

• Teacher exchange visits to look at best Teacher exchange visits to look at best practices in ECEpractices in ECE

• Meetings – pre-school & Kindergarten and Meetings – pre-school & Kindergarten and Grade 1 teachers to discuss transition Grade 1 teachers to discuss transition

POLICY STANDARDS FOR POLICY STANDARDS FOR ECEECE• Policy endorsed by government in 2002 & will Policy endorsed by government in 2002 & will

govern the early childhood services, both public govern the early childhood services, both public & private& private

• the goals are to: the goals are to: – empower & encourage collaboration among empower & encourage collaboration among

stakeholders to ensure quality service is stakeholders to ensure quality service is providedprovided

– Strengthen services & interventions to ensure Strengthen services & interventions to ensure positive outcomespositive outcomes

– Use cost effective strategiesUse cost effective strategies– Empower parents & caregiversEmpower parents & caregivers– Provide trainingProvide training

Thank YouThank You

Ivy Harris – Early Childhood Ivy Harris – Early Childhood Supervision Supervision