Stakeholders in the public and private sectors in Anguilla have met in a national consultation for the establishment of an official policy to oversee the development, standards and regulations of early childhood education on the island. Once the various provisions of the draft document have been fully examined and completed, it will be submitted to Executive Council for approval without delay.
The final segment of the consultation, on Tuesday, January 21, at the Teachers’ Resource Centre, was facilitated by two resource persons from UNESCO: Mr Leon Charles and Ms Sian Williams who have been involved in the preparatory work for some time now.
Minister of Education, Mr Jerome Roberts, recalled that in 2012 the Ministry of Social Development had commissioned a survey of the quality of early childhood environments in Anguilla aimed at developing the critical sector. In 2013 the Ministry built on this work by embarking on the establishment of an early childhood development policy, standards and regulations.
“We wish to assure in particular the pre-school and day care operators that whatever decisions are taken will bear in mind your current constraints, and any changes necessary will be implemented over a period of time,” Mr Roberts stated. He assured them that the Government would be providing all necessary guidance and support for their work.
Chief Minister, Mr Hubert Hughes, who declared open the consultation, said he was very encouraged with the active participation of the stakeholders to establish the Early Childhood Development Policy, Standards and Regulations. “This is the type of approach to development that ensures sustainability because it is concerned with the operation, management and regulation of the early childhood sector,” he noted.
Mr Hughes continued: “The fact that we are willing to set benchmarks, devise means to achieve them, while at the same time having mechanisms in place to perform ongoing evaluation, is an indication of the importance that we attach to the project. We are indicating both by word and deed that not only are our young people indeed our future, but also that we are willing to take major steps to achieve that reality.”
Following the conclusion of the opening ceremony, the facilitators were introduced by Permanent Secretary of Education, Mrs Chanelle Petty Barrett. One of them, Mr Leon Charles, mentioned above, spoke about the objectives of the national consultation and related matters. “What we are doing is to reaffirm and to consolidate the work we have done before,” he explained. “Whatever we leave here with today, is what will go to the Government for approval and will go into your official policy document,” he told the participants in the national consultation. It is therefore extremely important that you really ensure that what is being recommended is what you are comfortable with because you are the ones who will have to live with it after now.”
Ms Sian Williams
Mr Charles dealt with the policy aspect of the draft document, while his colleague, Ms Sian Williams, conducted the presentation on the regulatory framework and standards. The participants we organized in different groups to consider the proposals.
