ECC calls for more funding to support early childhood institutions

 

Chairman of the Early Childhood Commission (ECC), Trisha Williams-Singh, is calling for more funding to support the development of early childhood institutions, which have seen improvements through appeals for investment. 

 

Mrs. Williams-Singh says both the private and public sectors must do more to support early childhood development efforts. 

 

Speaking with the Radio Jamaica News after the official ceremony of the ECC's annual Professional Development Institute held Monday at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, Mrs. Williams-Singh pointed out that some institutions that were operating below 50 per cent are reaping the rewards from resources they have received. 

 

"Last year we selected 140 early childhood institutions to work with. These institutions were operating below 50 per cent on assessment and now, I'm proud to say we have some now operating at 90 per cent. So we are seeing improvements, but again I would share that we need more funding overall to ensure that all our schools are at 100 per cent," she insisted.  

 

The ECC chairman added that more than 60 per cent of the over 2,000 certified ECIs are now meeting the required standards. 

 

Mrs. Williams-Singh emphasized the need for increased focus on younger students, noting that early investment is critical for long-term educational success. 

 

"If we don't get it right from early years, what you find, if a child is not ready for learning at early years, that child enters primary unable to learn, not wanting to learn, then you move on to secondary where again, if you haven't learned from early or primary, secondary, then when you get to secondary you're still not learning, hence the emphasis for us needing more at early years," she stressed.