Joseph Cunningham, Gleaner Writer
Principal, teachers and students from the Sir Alex Basic School in Wynters Pen, Spanish Town, which has been adopted by the Project for the Advancement of Childhood Education (PACE). Joining them in the back row are Councillor Theresa Turner (third left); Member of Parliament Olivia 'Babsy' Grange (fourth right); education officer Thelma Reynolds (third right), PACE founding member Raphaelita Walker (right). Also present is Lorna King (front right), chairperson of the PACE Adopt-a-School Committee. - Contributed
THEY PROMOTE early childhood education with a special focus on pre-school age children in situations of cultural or economic difficulty.
Recognising the importance of the early years in the process of a child's development, Women for PACE is the Project for Advancement of Childhood Education.
The NGO was established by Jamaican-born women living in Toronto, Canada, in 1987. This came in response to an appeal by then Prime Minister of Jamaica, Edward Seaga, for financial assistance towards early childhood development from Jamaican immigrants in Canada.
The voluntary organisation has largely focused on providing teacher training assistance by placing Toronto community college students in Jamaican basic schools, providing a learning experience in another cultural environment.
And, a bursary in honour of David Applet, a respected friend of Jamaica, is offered for a local early childhood education student in any community college in Toronto.
Through these channels, an effective relationship is being established between pre-school communities in Jamaica and Canada.
In a recent television interview, Mr. Seaga reiterated his passion for an efficient early childhood education in Jamaica, stating that after 45 years in active politics he is less than satisfied with the quality and availability of education at this level.
Raphaelita Walker, past vice-president and current community relations officer at PACE, told The Gleaner that the organisation's goal was to foster "a responsive community effort to provide a positive learning environment for young children and their teachers by implementing developmental programmes". Through such means, she said it was hoped that the country's social and economic disparities would be reduced.
