ECC to certify 300 new basic schools within three years

Plans have been outlined by the Early Childhood Commission (ECC) to certify 300 additional basic schools over the next three years.
   
The institutions will have to meet the Commission's 12 qualifying standards.
   
Karlene Degrasse Deslandes, Executive Director (acting) of the Early Childhood Commission, told JIS News that 100 institutions are being targeted under the initial phase of the current certification exercise.
   
It commenced last September and is scheduled for completion in August this year.  
   
She said the agency is in the process of completing the certification of 22 of  the 100 institutions short-listed from 183 identified islandwide.  
   
They are located in Kingston and St. Andrew, St. Catherine, Clarendon, Westmoreland, Hanover, St. James, Trelawny as well as Portland.
   
Mrs. Degrasse Deslandes said the schools have attained between 90 and 99 per cent of the certification standard requirements.
   
The standards outline stipulations relating to: staffing; developmental and educational programmes; interactions and relationships with children as well as physical environment.