Good to know that Government is emphasising ‘Early Childhood Education’

Oct 28, 2024 Letters

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Dear Editor,

It is good to know that Early Childhood Education is taking its rightful place in Guyana. We all know that the ‘early childhood’ period is of utmost importance, encompassing several quite distinct phases: from ‘conception to birth’ and from ‘birth to 3 years’ (with emphasis on the first 1,000 days (from conception to 24 months), followed by the ‘preschool and pre-primary years (3 years to 5 or 6 years, or the age of school entry), and if the requisite work is not done in this period, then there are likely to be huge and many problems for these children, as they move towards pre and post teen years.

So, as expected, many parents and educators are now quite optimistic and believers in the government of the day, since Diamond is set to get a $108M Early Childhood Development Centre. In terms of the outlook globally, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) include Target 4.2 which states that by 2030, all girls and boys must have access to quality early child development, care, and pre-primary education, so that they are ready for primary education.

Across many countries, governments, international bodies, coalitions, and private sector entities are all recognizing that quality, early education and care for children is an economic and social investment for future growth and wellbeing. Overall, investment in early childhood education and care is gaining traction, and Guyana is right there in the mix.

Editor, the news is good, heralding that the Caribbean Development Bank’s (CDC), Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF) programme (that is being implemented through the Ministry of Finance),  recently signed a $108 million contract for the construction of this new Diamond Early Childhood Development Centre. Details show that the Guyana Government signed the $108,825,081 contract with Builders Hardware, General Supplies and Construction to build the facility. The thinking, and rightly so, is that “Early Childhood Development (ECD) is a major priority for the Government of Guyana and has been a key area in BNTF’s development agenda in Guyana.

Going back a bit, under the BNTF programme in Guyana, eight (8) Early Childhood Development Centres (ECDCs) have been constructed across Regions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 7 and 10 as well as an Early Childhood Centre of Excellence at the University of Guyana.” This is really proof that the PPP/C Government understands that Early Childhood Development (ECD) is all about a comprehensive approach to programmes and policies for children, from birth to seven years of age. Its purpose is to protect the rights of children to develop their full cognitive, emotional, social and physical potential, and hence, the setting up of corresponding infrastructure.

As for this soon-to-be realised facility for the East Bank of Demerara, “BNTF noted that it will have classrooms tailored for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school agers with an estimated intake of 47 students.”  And as for its accompanying and necessary ambience, “… the facility will also make provision for staff and visitors and the design caters for persons with disabilities … (and) will feature sufficient space for recreational activities.”

Why this ‘big fuss’?

The answer is scientifically grounded as ‘human life’ is truly a story for which the beginning sets the tone, thus making the early years of childhood a time of great opportunity, but also great risks, that must all be eliminated, or at least minimised. Gleanings from neurologists and linguists reveal that “Children’s brains are built, moment by moment, as they interact with their environments … (where) in the first few years of life, more than one million neural connections are formed each second, a pace never repeated again. That is why educators must grasp and internalise that “The quality of a child’s early experiences makes a critical difference as their brains develop, providing either strong or weak foundations for learning, health and behaviour throughout life.”

I add that “Early childhood offers a critical window of opportunity to shape the trajectory of a child’s holistic development and build a foundation for their future.” So, for children to achieve their full potential (as is their human right, as well as health care and nutrition, protection from harm and a sense of security), opportunities for early learning, and responsive caregiving (like talking, singing and playing), with parents and caregivers who love them, a good government will make the necessary accommodation.

Guyana will not ‘miss out’ on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The country must not pay the price in lost potential, such as a child’s dying before a chance to grow up, or going through life with poor physical and mental health, struggling to learn and, later, to earn a living.  Now is the time, and the Diamond Childhood Development Centre is another example in commitment.

Yours truly,
Hargesh B. Singh

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• childhood, children, Development, Economic, Government

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