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

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

3. 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

4. ECE STATISTICS
Annual Enrolment (2002/2003): 4,732 children at government Pre-primary (3-4 years old), schools and 529 at private pre-primary 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.

5. 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

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

7. 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

8. 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, 2-4=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

9. STRATEGIES
Provide free school meals to all Primary aged to ensure that the nutrition needs are met
School uniforms – eliminates socio-economic 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

10. 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.

11. 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

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

13. Thank You