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Intervention Programme for Children 0-4 Years
Written by: Denise Dennis
Photo: Mark Bell
Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, reads a book from the Bintah Reader series with children from Laura's Basic School in Kingston. The occasion was the launch of the series at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston on May 19.
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The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information will be collaborating with the Ministries of Health and Labour and Social Security to strengthen early intervention for children zero to four years.
Focus will also be placed on providing parents with the tools to offer psychosocial stimulation to their children through the parent places across the island.
An additional 20 schools in the western region of the island will receive copies of the books next week.
This was announced by Education Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, at the launch of Carlong Publishers (Caribbean) Limited's early childhood reader series called Bintah at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston on Thursday (May 19).
The initiative is aimed at addressing nutritional and psychosocial gaps in the formative years, in order for better education and training outcomes.
"If we want children to do well in school, we have to ensure that we tackle whatever deficits we can control. If they are in a challenging environment, we are going to have to go in and provide support…they (need to be) properly nourished and properly taken care of during those important first 1,000 days," Senator Reid said.
An allocation of $30 million was made in the 2016/17 Budget to facilitate the intervention.
The facilities, which seek to heighten parents' awareness and knowledge of strategies at the early childhood level, involve collaboration between the Early Childhood Commission (ECC) and the National Parenting Support Commission (NPSC).
"The ECC, in collaboration with its various partners, has also developed a national parenting support strategy and parenting standards to ensure parents across Jamaica can access high quality parenting services," the Minister informed.
Of the 92 parent places with across the island, 32 have been certified.
Meanwhile, Senator Reid commended Carlong Publishers for its continued support for education, particularly at the early childhood level.
The reader series includes three books by first-time author, Ihenyen Ejodame, titled: Meet Bintah, Bintah Takes a Trip, and How Bintah Got her Jewels.
Some 32 early childhood institutions received book donations at the launch, including activities books.