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 3yearv-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), non-governmental, 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 – 3s 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