| Strategic measures have been implemented to advance early childhood development and Government is fully on board.In fact, Cabinet was recently privy to extensive measures that have been implemented in this regard and those that are expected to be realised in the near future.According to Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman, at the most recent post-cabinet press briefing, Cabinet was enlightened of the current state of early childhood development in Guyana. A presentation in this regard was delivered by Ms. Audrey Rodrigues, Learning and Development Officer at the United Nations Child Fund (UNICEF).Trotman disclosed that the presentation also saw Rodrigues giving details of the activities undertaken by the Childcare and Protection Agency in collaboration with UNICEF,Cheap NBA Gear, in 2013 and 2014. The activities included the establishment of the Early Childhood Development Unit, organising of an accredited certificate programme for early childhood development practitioners at the University of Guyana (UG) and the certification of 15 facilitators and lecturers as Caribbean vocational qualification assessors.The collaboration also saw the realisation of the integration of early childhood development and community health workers training in Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine and the production of early childhood posters in the Macushi, Wapishana and Akawaio languages.Added to these achievements,Wholesale China Jerseys, last year the collaboration saw the approval of two post graduate programmes in early childhood development by UG.This undertaking was supported by the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Jamaica, Minister Trotman disclosed.But even more plans are apace to advance early childhood development. According to Trotman,Wholesale NFL Jerseys China, already a requisition and assessment of space for an early childhood development centre of excellence has been made. And he disclosed that “the President has mandated that wherever space was found it should not just be for a building, but there should be adequate facilities for sports and recreation, that is, a ground should come along side that building.”During the recent presentation to Cabinet, Rodrigues highlighted priorities and projections for 2016 and onwards, and even emphasised that early childhood is a key element in creating sustainable human capital and promoting national development.Cabinet was advised of its role in promoting early childhood development and the responsibility of specific Ministries in this regard. The specific Ministries to be involved in such endeavours are: Citizenship, Social Protection,Cheap Jerseys, Education, and Public Health.Meanwhile, Minister Trotman also spoke of the creation of a training centre in Guyana to stimulate the development of children,Wholesale NFL Jerseys, adolescents and youths with special education needs associated with disabilities. This project,China NFL Jerseys, he noted, has its genesis in the 4th Caricom Cuba Summit held in Trinidad and Tobago in December 2011 and the 15th Meeting of the Council for Foreign and Community Relations which was held in Suriname in May 2012. At the latter forum Guyana volunteered to take the lead role in the creation of the training centre, Trotman added,Cheap Jerseys, even as he disclosed that it was against this background that an oversight committee was established in November 2012.“That committee comprises representatives from the Caricom Secretariat, the then Ministry of Health, Education, Human Services and Social Security and the National Commission on Disability,” Trotman informed. He went on to note, too, that following the recent presentation Cabinet decided to approve a cooperation of technical assistance agreement between Caricom, the Ministry of Education, the Republic of Cuba, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on behalf of Government.“This agreement will lead to the establishment of the training centre,” said Trotman, as he pointed out that Cabinet has also mandated the relevant Ministries within the oversight committee to meet urgently with the Caricom Secretariat to resolve all outstanding matters, including the selection of a suitable site to locate the centre and enable effective implementation of the process. |
