Basseterre: St. Kitts, May 31, 2021: Minister of Education, the Honourable Jonel Powell in an address to the nation to launch Child Month 2021, shared some of the recent achievements of the Early Childhood Development Unit (ECDU).
“There is much to celebrate in Early Childhood in our Federation”, he said.
Minister Powell noted achievements, including the installation of water tanks in eight centres across the Federation, training across the board to improve teaching skills of early childhood educators as well as a literacy development activity which helped parents in Nevis to keep their children creatively occupied.
“Water storage tanks were installed at eight government Early Childhood Centres in our Federation. This was realized through the full implementation of the USAID and the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre-funded Water Security Project in vulnerable schools,” he said.
Minister Powell, expressed caregivers from 46 nurseries received training that will help them to improve their teaching styles and skills.
“On St. Kitts a programme was delivered to early childhood staff to increase their pedagogical knowledge and also their competence in the necessary operational skills to respond to health and safety issues. This was targeted for nurseries and was completed with the collaboration of the Ministry of Health. Caregivers from forty-six (46) nurseries were the beneficiaries of this training that demonstrated active learning in the nursery programme,” he said.
“A literacy development activity was completed in Nevis to support parents faced with lockdowns due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. This helped parents to use interactive read-aloud puppetry and storytelling experiences to stimulate their young children’s learning,” noted Minister Powell.
The Minister commended local businesses and organizations which have continued to support early childhood initiatives. In this respect, he saluted TDC, OD Brisbane, Food Centre and EZ-Axcess Graphics for their sponsorship and donations to the Child Month events this year.
