National Integrated Early Childhood Development Policy developed
UNICEF and Ministry of Human Services and Social Security hold two day validation workshop
For UNICEF, the first 1000 days of life is critical to a child’s development. Failure to give children the best start in life can have severe consequences for them later. Early Childhood Development (ECD) offers a critical window of opportunity to shape the development of the child.
Quality ECD services during the first three years of life boost children’s growth and development, enabling them to acquire needed skills such as communication, critical thinking, problem solving, gross & fine motor skills. Quality ECD services improve school and learning readiness which further improve children’s performance in subsequent educational levels, thus preparing them for higher educational attainment.
In many countries limitations exist that hamper the successful delivery of quality ECD services. These include limited resources, poor quality facilities and under trained practitioners. Guyana has made tremendous strides in enhancing the delivery of ECD services through the regulatory framework, capacity development of ECD practitioners and investment in resources.
With funding from the Government of Canada, UNICEF provided technical support to the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security (MHSSS) to develop this draft policy, which fills the need for an integrated and coordinated national approach to ECD in Guyana. The policy targets children 0-3 years old and will also benefit parents and childcare providers to enhance the delivery of quality ECD services in a coherent, sustainable, and targeted manner. The draft Policy was developed through a multi-sectoral and participatory approach, encompassing an extensive literature review as well as national and regional level consultations.
Beginning July 8, 2024, UNICEF along with the MHSSS, held a two-day validation exercise of the draft ECD Policy at the Cara Lodge in Georgetown, Guyana. Participants of the validation workshop represented multiple sectors within the ECD space in Guyana. These include, but not limited to, teachers, day-care owners/operators, child protection officers, government and diplomatic representatives.
The two-day workshop was led by UNICEF Consultant, Samuel Ngaruiya. Mr. Ngaruiya covered with the plenary discussions, critical analysis of the thematic areas of the policy with an aim to fine tune the draft policy and formally adopt concrete next steps. The “overall goal of the Policy is to provide a framework for improving access, quality and inclusion in ECD services as well as promoting cross-sectoral collaboration and coordination and integrating the nurturing care practices to ensure that every child born in Guyana.”
UNICEF commends the Government of Canada for its continued investment in ECD services in Guyana and the Government of Guyana, specifically the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security for its dedication to development of children 0-3 and the strengthening of ECD services in the country.
#ForEveryChild #qualityECD
