By Devon Evans, Gleaner CorrespondentOCHO RIOS, St. Ann:
THE UNITED Nation's Children's Fund (UNICEF) has reaffirmed its commitment to assisting the government and people of Jamaica in establishing and maintaining integrated approaches to child development.
UNICEF Early Childhood Officer in Jamaica, Dr. Kerida McDonald, said the organisation was fully committed to the programme and that the support will continue to be made at the national, parish and community levels.
According to Dr. McDonald, "not only Jamaica, but many nations of the world have come to realise that we can respond to the needs of our children with much greater efficiency if services and systems for children are holistic instead of divided into sector such as education, health etc."
She pointed out that the focus on integration has taken on new priority and significance. Most notable she said, is the recent passing of legislation in Parliament for the establishment of a National Early Childhood Commission that, among other things, will co-ordinate the training and certification of Early Childhood Practitioners and the accreditation of training programmes.
Dr. McDonald's statement was made on her behalf by Kenneth Russell of UNICEF to those in attendance at the National Certification Graduation Ceremony for Early Childhood providers at the Renaissance Jamaica Grande Resort in Ocho Rios on March 9.
She said UNICEF is confident that through the higher certification of Early Childhood personnel, hand in hand with the requirement for licensing of basic schools and day care centres, that standards of Early Childhood Institutions will be raised.
She said this will also enable standards at Early Childhood Institutions to be raised. This would also ensure that the rights of children to high quality care and education would be adequately and appropriately served, she said.
Dr. McDonald went on to express UNICEF's appreciation to have been able to partner with the Jamaican government in supporting the Project Implementation Unit that has been carrying out the groundwork leading to the establishment of the Early Childhood Commission.
"We commend all ministries, agencies and individuals who have worked hard to achieve this milestone of establishing the new entity, which we are confident will make the significant difference to the way we serve and shape the lives of those who we describe as the future of this country," Dr. McDonald stated.
She said UNICEF wants to specially recognise the Training Partnership Project initiated this year, involving the Ministry of Education, HEART Trust NTA and NCTVET, which the organisation is supporting.
Noting the important role the project has been playing in supporting the efforts of early childhood integration, Dr. McDonald said that as the project develops, it is expected that early childhood practitioners from the health sector will be coming on board for training, "and they will be joining trainees from day care, basic schools and home visiting programmes.
Dr. McDonald commended the 453 basic school teachers and seven care givers on the attainment of Level One Certification. The graduates came from Region Three comprising the parishes of Portland, St. Mary, St. Ann and Trelawny.
She described the occasion as the dawning of a new era for early childhood practitioners and, while commending the graduates for their achievement, she also urged them not to become complacent but to move ahead to higher levels to the benefit of both themselves and their children. Master of ceremonies was Daniel Campbell, Regional Officer for the JTA Co-op Credit Union.
