MINISTER of Social Protection, Volda Lawrence, on Thursday announced that the government expects to achieve universal Early Childhood Care by December 2015.“The establishment of our childhood centres will be initiated by the Government, and it is expected to move towards public-private-partnerships,” she said, adding:
“These Centres will provide quality teaching that will facilitate learning for our 0 to four-year-old children, and in the process ensure their easy transition to primary education.”

According to the minister, at the end of September 2015, the Ministry will be revealing its Early Childhood Development Programme. “This programme encompasses a comprehensive approach of policies and programmes targeting children from birth to about eight years,” Minister Lawrence told the House.

In addition, parents and caregivers will also be beneficiaries of this programme. “This strategic plan aims to help protect the child’s rights to develop his or her full cognitive, emotional, social, physical and spiritual potential, and it addresses many of the very persistently pressing social issues,” the minister added.

Noting that families play a critical role in a child’s early development, she highlighted, the fact that a Childhood Centre will be set up and housed in the Family Court, to cater for children who are in the middle of family disputes.“We at the Ministry of Social Protection have started working with various stakeholders to address the prevalence of dysfunctional families. We recognise the need to create greater economic opportunities for people to progress and at the same time we will hold people more accountable for the protection of their family members. Child abuse, sexual exploitation, neglect and domestic violence are too common place,” Lawrence said.

According to the minister, the government will implement an Early Childhood Development Programme to comprehensively address policies and programs relating to children, including those in institutional care. Noting that the high number of children in institutional care, Lawrence said there must be help for families so they can provide for their children. “Every child should be with a family, biological, adoptive or foster family,” she said. (GINA)