The document summarizes Jamaica's child care system and the history and role of early childhood education. It provides details on the types of child care available, including basic schools, day care centers, and government infant schools. It notes that over 80% of preschoolers are enrolled in basic schools and under 20% in public infant programs. The document also discusses the underlying philosophy, accessibility, training requirements for ECE professionals, and roles of early childhood educators as models, guides, friends and inspirers for children.

2. AGENDA
 Types of Child Care System
 History/Evolution of System
 Underlying Philosophy
 Availability
 Accessibility
 Role of ECE/ Training
 Summation

3. DEFINITION OF FLAG
 Colour Representation

4. A BRIEF LOOK AT JAMAICA’S
BACKGROUND
 Population
 Occupied
 Economy-Debt
 Independence

5. FIRST COMMUNITY BASED
SCHOOL
 Rev Henry Ward
 Basic school
 Mr. Grant-Five year project
 Van Leer Corporation
 Be responsible for the Early Childhood Education and
curriculum guides

6. 1970s
 Education remained uncommon even after the abolition of
slavery
 Early efforts were conducted mostly by Christian churches

7. 1980s
 Four levels of public school system
 Preprimary level was made up of infant and basic schools
(ages four to six)
 Primary education was provided at primary and “all- age”
schools (grades one through six)

8. THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
 Mission statement
To provide a system which secures quality education
and training for all persons in Jamaica and achieves
effective integration of educational and cultural
resources in order to optimize individual and national
development

9. THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
 Expansion of Teacher Trainers for special education
programs
 Funding for basic schools
 Budget allocation
 Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
 Head offices
 6 Regional offices

10. TYPES OF CHILD CARE SYSTEMS
 Day care center (Government built, private home-based)
 Infant school
 Nursery school
 Privately operated pre-school
 Basic school- A system of Community Based (basic
schools) has been established and appears to be a viable
approach. With these systems in place the challenge now
is to continue and maintain their extended scope because
of their economic decline.

11. UNDERLYING PHILOSOPHY
 The philosophical base for the early education programs
in Jamaica is eclectic

12. BELIEFS AND VALUES
 Identify and develop social, intellectual, physical and
emotional needs of the child
 Co-operate in developing and maintaining continuous
research and evaluation of teaching and learning activities
in ECE

13. BELIEFS AND VALUES
 Identify, educate and train various types of personnel
needed for optimal development and utilization of suitable
curriculum materials in ECE on an ongoing basis
 Help parents (and teachers) understand the specific role
they play in the physical, mental, social and emotional
growth of children
 Develop and maintain co-ordination of ECE with other
sections of the education system

14. HEAD START
 A program of the United States Department of Health and
Human Services that is designed to help children from
birth to age five, who come from families with incomes
below or at the poverty level
 Focus on children from a
disadvantaged background

15. APPROACHES
 Various curriculum approaches to educate young children
a) Montessori
b) Pestalozzi
c) Piaget
d) Froebel
e) Dewey
f) Bruner

16. PESTALOZZI
 Based on Johan Heinrich Pestalozzi’s theory
 Develop children into well balanced and responsible
adults by fostering their “head, heart and hand”
 Encouraged and expected to set up foundations in their
own countries to help educate new generations of
disadvantaged children

17. FROEBEL
 Based on Friedrich Froebel’s theory
 Curriculum is based on play. Play could be instructive
 The teacher/student relationship should be one of equality
 Education as self-activity

18. DEWEY
 Based on John Dewey’s theory
 Education is a method of social reform
 Curriculum fluctuates differently among students
 Education is designed on
the basis of a theory of
experience

19. BRUNER
 Different ways of thinking were important at different
ages
 Cognitive abilities develop through active interaction
 Language is important for cognitive growth
 Social exchange between the child and adult is very
important

20. AVAILABILITY
 2,587 Early Childhood Institutions
 1,921 Recognized Basic Schools
 147 Unrecognized Basic Schools
 402 Day Care Centers (Government built, private home-
based)
 29 Government Infant Schools
 83 Government Infant Departments
 5 Special Education Institutions offer early childhood care

21. AVAILABILITY
 Available for the majority of children up to age six
throughout Jamaica
 The enrolments rate of 3 - 5 year old age cohort is 91%
and is one highest in the Caribbean Region
 Over 80% of preschoolers enrolled in community operated
basic schools and under 20% are in Public Infant
Departments with benefits from government subsidies
 Slogan: “ Education is everybody’s business”,
“ Education is an attitude”

22. ACCESSIBILITY
 All children are eligible to attend government subsidized
and supported pre-primary programs and day care
facilities
 Typical age for enrollment in Basic Schools, Infant
Schools, and Infant Departments is four
 Home-based and day care facilities generally have
children from infancy to age four
 Basic schools are financed by subsidies from a sponsoring
body, the government and minimal fees paid by parents

23. ACCESSIBILITY
 Infant schools and infant departments programs are
financed by the government, these schools charge no fees
and are available to all children.
 Private schools all charge fees(daily or weekly), some of
them quite high
 Children with learning disabilities have access to special
education programs in many government schools, often
aided greatly by the activities and support of a number of
voluntary agencies

24. TRAINING
 The National Council for Technical and Vocational
Education and Training (NVTVET) developed national
competency standards for certifying early childhood
workers at three levels, from entry point to readiness for
formal teacher training
 At least level 1 training to be early childhood practitioners
 The basic school teacher is required to have at least three
subjects on the Jamaican School Certificate, including
English and Mathematics

25. TRAINING
 Ministry of Education has always provided support in the
form of continuous training of the basic school teachers
 Practicing early childhood teachers receive certification
after completing a two-year training course at a teacher’s
college
 These teachers are required to upgrade their academic
training through evening and summer classes or through a
one-year post-certificate course to gain a diploma in
education

26. TRAINING
 Bachelor of Education (ECE) degrees are offered by the
Consortium of Institutions for Teacher Education
(CITE)
 Teachers with diplomas and degrees usually work in infant
schools or departments

27. APPLE STORY
 Minor things have deep influence on children. We should
be careful about what we say and what we do to them.

28. HAPPY ADULT
ADULT Childhood Role of ECE
Healthy Nutritious food Model
Good Career Knowledge & Skills Guide
Happy Family Emotional Skills Friend
Friends Social skills Partner
Hobbies Interests & Passions Inspirer

29. MODEL
 Enjoy nutritious food
 Good eating habits
 Be active in the playground

30. GUIDE
 Curriculum should include organized play, stories, action
songs, care of a children’s garden, foundation work in
reading, writing, and number work, and arts and crafts.

31. FRIEND
 Love children and gain love from them
 Develop close and trusting relationships
 Develop emotional skills

32. PARTNER
 Solve problems between children, help develop social
skills
 Play with children: physical activities; music & movement
 A traditional Jamaican children’s song and ring game:
Brown Girl in the Ring
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FH_Iu-CSqe0

33. INSPIRER
 Observe children’s interests and encourage them
 Positive attitude toward life, no matter what they will be
faced with

34. SUMMATION
 British Model
 The philosophical base is eclectic
 System: Basic Schools, Day Care Centers, Government
infant schools, Government Infant Departments, Special
Education Institutions offering Early Childhood.
 Available for the majority of children up to age six

35. SUMMATION
 Over 80% of preschoolers enrolled attend community
operated basic schools and just under 20% are in Public
Infant Departments and private centers which benefit from
government subsidies
 ECE are certified at three levels. At least level one training
is a must to work in this area
 Role of ECE as model, guide, partner, friend and inspirer

36. Dr Suess ABC read in Jamaican Patois
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IN3ZadHV8E8&featur
e=player_embedded

37. THANK YOU!
SABRINA, SHIRLEY, LISA