Education Minister blasts Early Childhood Commission
Published:Thursday | November 19, 2015 | 2:48 PM
Education Minister Ronald Thwaites is blasting the Early Childhood Commission after an audit found that the agency has failed to issue any registration certificates to institutions throughout its 10-year existence.
The Auditor General's Department made the discovery in an audit in which it said the commission has been issuing perennial permits to the thousands of early childhood institutions which operate across Jamaica.
The Education Minister told The Gleaner/Power 106 News Centre this morning that the situation is unacceptable and the ministry has asked that the commission to review its standards.
READ: Early Childhood Commission has been accepting invalid police records – audit
Education Minister Ronald Thwaites
Yesterday, communications manager at the Early Childhood Commission, Celia Morgan, told our news centre that no registration certificates have been issued because none of the institutions have attained all the required standards.
She said the commission has been restructuring its registration process in light of challenges being faced by the institutions seeking to be registered.
READ: Early Childhood Commission says it's taking steps to address shortcomings
Morgan says some early childhood institutions that have recently attained the registered status will be announced by year end.
The auditor general has also found that the commission has been flouting the law by not carrying out the required number of inspections of institutions.