Six preschools in Dominica are beneficiaries of over EC$40,000 worth of materials and sleeping cots, thanks to Child Fund Caribbean and an initiative of the West Dominica Children’s Federation Inc.
In a ceremony held at the Mahaut Resource Centre on Wednesday June 25, Coordinator of the Federation, Beverly Baron, said the preschools were in need of assistance as they moved towards the HighScope curriculum.
“So the West Dominica Children Federation, through the money that we receive from Child Fund Caribbean, has come to the assistance on this occasion of six preschools, which will benefit from the HighScope Curriculum materials,” she said.
HighScope is a new child-focused approach to teaching and learning which uses a carefully designed process — called “active participatory learning” — to achieve powerful, positive outcomes.
HighScope Preschool Curriculum assists young children excel in language and cognitive learning and also promotes independence, curiosity, decision-making, cooperation, persistence, creativity, and problem solving — the fundamental skills that help determine success in adult life.
The Bense, Tete Start, Colihaut, Coulibistrie, Soufriere and St. Alphonsus pre-schools were the beneficiaries of the donation.
“These six preschools will now be able to enhance the learning environment … we are very grateful that we are able to do this; creating change from the roots,” Baron said.
The schools will receive also sleeping cots, paint, building blocks, magna tiles, toy animals, magnets among others.
Baron also noted that the organization has already distributed over 200 sleeping cots to preschools from Penville to Petite Savanne.
Also addressing the ceremony, Early Childhood Development Officer, Veda George, said the Ministry of Education is conscious that children on all levels should be given the opportunity to learn in a way that is appropriate for their levels of development.
“And we as adults need to provide them with a curriculum that presents the right environment for learning,” she said. “We are therefore grateful for these learning materials that will assist in implementing the much acclaimed HighScope Curriculum at these six other preschools.”
George said 25 preschools have already adopted the curriculum.
Support for early childhood education greatly appreciated.
Great! Keep this up.
Good job