The Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development on Wednesday officially recognised the contribution of long serving members of the early childhood education sector.
A total of 41 early childhood educators were recognised for over 20 years of service in the sector. Among them, three early childhood educators, Valerie Alleyne, Euraldine Victor and Linda Vigilante, were recognised for over forty years of teaching service.
During the recognition ceremony the ministry also highlighted the significance of the recently piloted High Scope Curriculum, a developmentally appropriate curriculum for preschoolers. The High Scope Curriculum allows children to actively participate in their learning with the necessary guidance and support from adults.
“Its philosophy is in active participatory learning, meaning that children learn by being involved in meaningful exercises,” said Veda George, Assistant Education Officer-Early Childhood Education, as she addressed the Early Childhood Development National Symposium and recognition ceremony at the Arawak House of Culture.
“In the High Scope classroom, children actively construct knowledge and truths. It does not mean that children are just left to learn on their own. What this means is that children learn based on their levels of development,” George said, adding that ‘adult scaffolding’ was very important in the classroom.
“The adults are expected to carefully monitor the children and plan for them based on their levels of development and not their age,” she noted.
Dominica adopted the High Scope Curriculum following a 2007 Ministry of Education and UNICEF survey which revealed that 75 percent of preschool centres were not following an appropriate early childhood curriculum. According to the survey, the centres were not providing the “variety and depth of learning experiences that children need in their early years.”
Since then, the Bagatelle Preschool, the Canefield Social Centre Preschool, Grand Fond Social Centre Preschool, Mahaut Preschool, S.W.O.R.D Preschool IN Grandbay and the Social Centre Model Preschool in Roseau have fully implemented the curriculum.
The Petite Savanne and St. Joseph preschools will adopt the curriculum this school year.
Congrats to all especially those from the creche/St Ann’s day nursery,like Valley,Judith,but what about Ms Josephine Alie Phillip,(she is in Dominica right now on family matters) who made such a successful contribution to the newtown /kingshill and surrounding areas. Hats off Ms Alie,you will never be forgotten by those of us you touched in one way or another. You are are a born giftd child educator.
Congratulations to the awardees. Your invaluable contributions to the cognitive, and socio-emotional development of many Dominicans are exemplary. As the saying goes “if your heart is in God’s work he will give you your just reward.” To mommy-Ms. Vigilante I love you, am honored to be yours and your former student. Continue to serve your children at the highest quality while you say the litany of prayers for them as you do each day (lol). As you always say “put God first in all things.” I also remember your motto at home “do what you love for surely then you’ll do it well.” Ms. Agnes,and Aunty Valley congrats and my love.
Congratulations to my pre school teacher ms Vigilante.. thank you!!! you laid the foundation in making me what I am today, a university graduate and currently a teacher…
congrats to mrs victor my preschool teacher 40 years and counting well deserve award.
congrats to Ms vVigilante and Agnes. well deserving.
Salutations to Miss Vigilante. I love you lady!!! you kept me on the straight and narrow from since that age. THANK YOU!!!!God Bless all teachers, hard working individuals for this nation!!!
Congrats to my mammy Ms. Agnes who was also awarded and Ms. Vigilant…they truly deserved it as well as all the others who received this award…their job is no easy task and it is one not many of us can do…hats of to all of them…shaping the young minds for a brighter future
I hope you all remember the past early childhood teacher of delices mrs Gertrude Baron.It seems to me that they remember every one else but her she has done a very good job with our children in Delices,and she need to be recognise also.Thank you mrs Baron for what you did with our children.parent from Delices.
Congratulations Mrs. Victor. May the Lord continue to bless you because you have worked hard. I hope the government will see it fit to at least give you all a little token at the end of each month since the preschool teachers salary is very small. Well done teachers!!
congrats to my mother EURALDINE VICTOR….
Congrats to all especially Ms Vigilante- my former teacher that and she taught my daughter too..Well done guys and to the powers that be thank you for recognizing them.