BARBADOS Early Childhood Education in the context of

BARBADOS Early Childhood Education in the context of Equity and Quality preventing School Dropout

BARBADOS • The most easterly Island of the Caribbean • Approximately 166 square miles • Population: approx. 260, 000 • Composition: predominantly negro • Language: English

EDUCATION SYSTEM • British tiered system: Pre-primary (3 -5), Primary (5 -11), Secondary & Tertiary • Motto: Each one matters, quality education for all • Education high priority for government – the second largest chunk of the budget goes toward education

ECE STATISTICS • Annual Enrolment (2002/2003): 4, 732 children at government Pre-primary (3 -4 years old), schools and 529 at private preprimary Schools • 78 government schools and 18 private schools that cater for this age group • 1565 Total number of teachers interacting with children in the 3 -7 age range in government schools, of these 341 are males and 1224 are females.

CURRENT PROGRAMMES Ministry of Education Pre-primary Education: • Four traditional nursery schools designed to cater strictly for the needs of the 3 -4 age group (Shift system, 4 Nursery Assistants) • 63 Nursery Units – department of a public primary school. Parent Volunteer Support Programme to facilitate the needs of the 3 yearv-old in the Nursery Unit (1996). • One remaining Infant School. • Provision for children with Special Needs • Education Sector Enhancement Programme

CURRENT PROGRAMMES Ministry of Social Transformation CHILD CARE BOARD: • Birth to three • Public Day Care Centres - 15 • Private Day Care Centres – 64 registered (1998)

ECE ASSOCIATIONS • Early Childhood Education Association of Barbados Inc. (ECEAB), nongovernmental, a body of ECE educators who promote & advocate developmentally appropriate practice in ECE • Parents Teachers Associations • Parents Staff Associations • Private Day Care Operators Association

POLICIES • 1960 – first public nursery school (3 -5) • 1987 – 3 s into nursery departments • Registration (3/more children not your own) • Private educational institutions • Ratios of adults to children – Birth – 2 = 1: 6, 24=1: 12, 3 -5=1: 15 & 5 -7=1: 25 • Space, furniture & Equipment • Immunisation from birth to 16 • Entrance must be verified by birth & medical certificates • Length of school day & term • Inclusion of children with Special Needs

STRATEGIES • Provide free school meals to all Primary aged to ensure that the nutrition needs are met • School uniforms – eliminates socioeconomic differences • Public nursery schools on a shift basis 9 -12 and 1 -3 p. m. • Registration of Private institutions ensures quality provision & adherence to the National Curriculum

STRATEGIES • Free primary Health Care – provision of hearing aids, glasses, etc. • Support services for children in need, e. g. counselling, bus fares, uniforms, etc. • Student Services: Counsellor, Psychologists, Social Worker, etc.

Experiences in ECE Education Sector Enhancement Programme • Curriculum reform • Attainment targets & revised curriculum • Student-centred • Constructivist based learning • Thematic approach -Integration • Socio-emotional learning skills • Oral competence & Standard English

CHALLENEGS • Need to improve quality of ECE provision • Shortage of expertise in ECE training teachers • Lack of financial resources

Thank You