THE VOCATIONAL Training Development Institute (VTDI), the tertiary arm of the HEART Trust/NTA, in conjunction with the Enhancement of Basic Schools Project and the Early Childhood Commission, has embarked on an ongoing programme to train and certify early childhood education officers as assessors of early childhood practitioners.
These assessors are trained to plan, conduct and review assessment using a competency-based approach.
"The objective of the programme is to provide greater access to training and certification so that workers without certification can be assessed and certified," said Marjorie Blagrove-Williams, programme coordinator at VTDI. "If it is found that the workers are not yet competent, the gaps will be identified and training will be recommended."
According to the VTDI, the training will give the officers the skills to determine the competencies of practitioners within the early childhood sector.
The National Council on Technical Vocational Education and Training (NCTVET) has developed standards for early childhood practitioners against which they will be assessed.
Meanwhile, Freda Thomas, education and community activities officer with the Enhancement of Basic Schools Project pointed out that the competency-based training will also support the implementation of the Early Childhood Act because the standards will provide the basis for inspection of programme quality in the early childhood institutions islandwide.
Forty-seven early childhood education officers across the island have been trained to date.
