And Nevis

Map of St Kitts

Background Background St Kitts and Nevis encompasses total area of St Kitts and Nevis encompasses total area of 261 sq km. 261 sq km. Like other Caribbean islands, St Kitts and Nevis Like other Caribbean islands, St Kitts and Nevis lie in the tropics and experience mostly sunny lie in the tropics and experience mostly sunny conditions throughout the yearconditions throughout the yearStatistics of July 2007 indicate, Saint Kitts and Statistics of July 2007 indicate, Saint Kitts and Nevis holds a multi religious and multi-ethnic Nevis holds a multi religious and multi-ethnic population of 39,349population of 39,349The dominant racial group is black. Portuguese, The dominant racial group is black. Portuguese, British and Lebanese are in the minority. British and Lebanese are in the minority. The Federation of St Kitts and Nevis adheres to The Federation of St Kitts and Nevis adheres to the parliamentary democratic government the parliamentary democratic government structurestructureBasseterre is the capital of St Kitts and Nevis Basseterre is the capital of St Kitts and Nevis

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF EARLY CHILDHOOD OF EARLY CHILDHOOD

PROGRAMMING IN ST KITTS PROGRAMMING IN ST KITTS AND NEVISAND NEVIS

THE BEGINNING AND EXPANSION OF THE BEGINNING AND EXPANSION OF THE ECD SECTORTHE ECD SECTOR

Recorded history of education for Recorded history of education for young children young children in St. Kitts and Nevis in St. Kitts and Nevis predates the abolition of slavery. Infant predates the abolition of slavery. Infant schools for children ages 3-8 were schools for children ages 3-8 were established by Moravian and established by Moravian and Methodists churches in the late 1700’sMethodists churches in the late 1700’s Children began working from age 6 or 8Children began working from age 6 or 8Teaching of reading was the priority to Teaching of reading was the priority to enable individuals to read the bible enable individuals to read the bible

In 1918 formal child care began outside the In 1918 formal child care began outside the family home. working mothers started family home. working mothers started leaving their children with trained nursesleaving their children with trained nurses

In 1920 ‘The Baby Saving League’ was In 1920 ‘The Baby Saving League’ was formed and opened 6 cretches to serve 40 formed and opened 6 cretches to serve 40 infants for a penny a dayinfants for a penny a day

Between 1920 and mid 1970 the child care Between 1920 and mid 1970 the child care system underwent gradual expansion lead by system underwent gradual expansion lead by private individuals and NGO’S in response to private individuals and NGO’S in response to the increasing need for the servicethe increasing need for the service

Government Intervention in ECEGovernment Intervention in ECE1975 UNICEF and the Israeli government provided 1975 UNICEF and the Israeli government provided training for child care workerstraining for child care workers

1978 UNICEF and the Government entered a three 1978 UNICEF and the Government entered a three year agreement to improve 5 child care facilities, to year agreement to improve 5 child care facilities, to provide staff training and consultation for future provide staff training and consultation for future programme development. British Development programme development. British Development Resources also aided in program expansionResources also aided in program expansion

Government intervention Government intervention continuedcontinued

by the end of 1970’s about 100 children by the end of 1970’s about 100 children were enrolled in Government centreswere enrolled in Government centres

Between 1981 and 1983, Government Between 1981 and 1983, Government intervention continued with the signing intervention continued with the signing of a three year agreement with United of a three year agreement with United States Agency for International States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the US Development (USAID) and the US based- High/Scope foundationbased- High/Scope foundation (September 1981), resulting in:(September 1981), resulting in:

A Child Family and Community Unit (Early A Child Family and Community Unit (Early Childhood Unit) headed by a Co-ordinator, in Childhood Unit) headed by a Co-ordinator, in the Ministry of Educationthe Ministry of Education

An Early Childhood Policy manual and the An Early Childhood Policy manual and the motor ‘A Better Tomorrow’motor ‘A Better Tomorrow’

The addition of 4 Government centres and an The addition of 4 Government centres and an increase enrolment of 200 children. increase enrolment of 200 children.

An expanded network of both private and An expanded network of both private and public EC centres throughout the islandpublic EC centres throughout the island

A strong training and quality control capacity A strong training and quality control capacity to ensure high quality programming to ensure high quality programming throughout the Federationthroughout the Federation

1983 to 1990 saw further expansion of 1983 to 1990 saw further expansion of EC programming. By 1990 there was a EC programming. By 1990 there was a total of 50 centres throughout St Kitts total of 50 centres throughout St Kitts and Nevisand Nevis

1990 to 2009 saw another period of major 1990 to 2009 saw another period of major strides taking place in the EC sector namely:strides taking place in the EC sector namely:

The introduction of a Mission statement for The introduction of a Mission statement for early childhoodearly childhood

An increase in the number of public and An increase in the number of public and private centres to about 100. To date there private centres to about 100. To date there are however, 78 centres catering for about are however, 78 centres catering for about 53% of children birth to five years. 76% are 53% of children birth to five years. 76% are enrolled in preschools for the 3-5 age cohort enrolled in preschools for the 3-5 age cohort and 38% in nurseries for birth to 3 age and 38% in nurseries for birth to 3 age cohort.cohort.

An increase in Unit staff from 3 to 8An increase in Unit staff from 3 to 8

An increase in staff at Government An increase in staff at Government centres to include more domestic and centres to include more domestic and nursery workers and teachers’ aids nursery workers and teachers’ aids resulting in an adult child ratio of 1 to 5 resulting in an adult child ratio of 1 to 5 or 6 in nurseries and 1 to 10 in or 6 in nurseries and 1 to 10 in preschoolspreschools

Other new initiatives that contributed to Other new initiatives that contributed to the growth of the EC sector in our the growth of the EC sector in our country in terms of access and qualitycountry in terms of access and quality

New initiatives undertaken by the New initiatives undertaken by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Education and the

Early Childhood UnitEarly Childhood Unit

The development of minimum service The development of minimum service standards standards

The establishment of a monitoring and The establishment of a monitoring and supervision process which ensures supervision process which ensures that standards are maintained and high that standards are maintained and high quality EC services are deliveredquality EC services are delivered

Registration and licensing of centres Registration and licensing of centres including annual re-assessment and re-including annual re-assessment and re-licensing under the “The Probation and child licensing under the “The Probation and child Welfare Board Act 1994Welfare Board Act 1994

Job description for all categories of workers Job description for all categories of workers

Centre rules re- parent child participation Centre rules re- parent child participation

A comprehensive record keeping system at A comprehensive record keeping system at Unit and EC centresUnit and EC centres

Under programming:Under programming:

Toy Lending Library Toy Lending Library Transition Programme – from home to nursery, Transition Programme – from home to nursery, nursery to preschool and preschool to primary schoolnursery to preschool and preschool to primary schoolTraining for all categories of workersTraining for all categories of workersCurriculum development and current training in the Curriculum development and current training in the High/Scope interactive curriculumHigh/Scope interactive curriculumMaterials and equipment supportMaterials and equipment supportParent involvement and trainingParent involvement and trainingInvolvement of other sectorInvolvement of other sector

Moving towards universal access Moving towards universal access

The Reaching The Unreached Programme The Reaching The Unreached Programme (RTU)(RTU)Reaching Children Where They are Reaching Children Where They are (RCWTA)(RCWTA)

Preschool Expansion programme (PEP)Preschool Expansion programme (PEP)

Preschool to Primary School Transition Preschool to Primary School Transition Programme (PPTP) Programme (PPTP)

Public AwarenessPublic Awareness

Child Month celebrated in June of each Child Month celebrated in June of each yearyear

Radio and television news, print media, Radio and television news, print media, interviews, panel discussions etcinterviews, panel discussions etc

News letters both from centre and UnitNews letters both from centre and Unit

National Policies on ECENational Policies on ECE1975 St Christopher, Nevis and Anguilla 1975 St Christopher, Nevis and Anguilla Act No. 18. Approval required for Act No. 18. Approval required for operating private educational institutions operating private educational institutions

1982 an Early Childhood Manual was 1982 an Early Childhood Manual was developeddeveloped

1983 policy for early childhood education 1983 policy for early childhood education was included in ‘The Education Objectives was included in ‘The Education Objectives and Policyand Policy

1994 The Probation and Child Welfare 1994 The Probation and Child Welfare Board Act was passedBoard Act was passed

2005 the new ‘St Kitts and Nevis 2005 the new ‘St Kitts and Nevis Education Act No. 9 repealed Act. No. 18 Education Act No. 9 repealed Act. No. 18 of 1975 with very specific information on of 1975 with very specific information on the establishment of ECE services, the establishment of ECE services, programs and policies, council on ECE programs and policies, council on ECE services and regulationsservices and regulations

More Recent Policy DevelopmentsMore Recent Policy Developments2007-20092007-2009

Upgrading of the Early Childhood Policy Upgrading of the Early Childhood Policy

The development of the “White Paper for Education The development of the “White Paper for Education Development and Policy” by the Ministry of Development and Policy” by the Ministry of Education for all education sectors including early Education for all education sectors including early childhoodchildhood

The inclusion of the Transition Programme as The inclusion of the Transition Programme as policy in both the upgraded EC Policy and the policy in both the upgraded EC Policy and the White PaperWhite Paper

The way ForwardThe way ForwardExpand access to early childhood services Expand access to early childhood services – eg establishment of government – eg establishment of government facilities in other districtsfacilities in other districts

Implement the Early teacher training at Implement the Early teacher training at Clarence Fitzroy College (CFBC)Clarence Fitzroy College (CFBC)

Upgrade qualifications of all workersUpgrade qualifications of all workers

Support for children with special needsSupport for children with special needs

Provide institutional base for early Provide institutional base for early childhood service management childhood service management