Role of Early Childhood Resource Centres (ECRC) in Jamaica

1
Role of Early Childhood Resource Centres (ECRC)
in Jamaica
2
What is an ECRC?

• An ECRC is an institution dedicated to
  promoting excellence in Early Childhood
  Development (ECD) through
• being a repository of information
• Providing guidance and support to children,
  parents and practitioners on matters pertaining
  to the holistic development of children birth to
  eight years

3
Location of Centres

• One per parish
• Three in the Corporate Area
• ( See Handout)

4
Role of the ECRC

• Evolving Role
• Family as most effective and economical system
  for fostering sustainable development of the
  child is well documented
• Resource Centre promotes partnership among
  stakeholders at home, school and in the community
  in ECD

5
Role (contd)

• Reinforces importance of contributions of
• Public and Private sectors
• Parents
• Ministry of Education
• Clubs
• Social Groups and Organizations
• in ECD
• Establish partnerships with these stakeholders

6
Role (Contd0

• Help to augment the already existing
  resources/services in EC programme in the country
• An agent of change help to foster change by
  encouraging teachers and others to face change
  courageously and and enthusiastically
• Offer Counselling and Guidance

7
Role (Contd)

• Promote upgrading of Teaching/Learning
  conditions, especially of the underprivileged
• Provide quality support services for the
  implementation of the ECD curriculum
• Support trainers in improving quality of teaching
  by addressing gaps in practice
• Steer the path to innovativeness and creativity
  in ECD

8
Some Centre Offerings

• Teaching/learning materials
• Scholarly publications
• Parenting information
• Educational programmes
• Seminars, workshops and other EC related
  activities

9
Special Projects/Programmes

• Resource Centre Upgrading Project (RCUP) Phase ll
  supported programmes in select centres
• Parenting
• Roving Caregivers
• Income Generating
• Disability Awareness

10
Parenting Programme

• Parenting Education and skills training
• Focus is what parents need to know to help their
  children through school
• Parents encouraged to support their childrens
  learning
• Partnering with practitioners in ECD
• Foster parent-child bonding and dialogue

11
Roving Caregivers Programme

• Piloted in St Thomas RC in 2004
• Target group Needy children birth to three, who
  lack access to EC services
• Non-formal programme
• Provision of early stimulation for children
• Improvement of parenting practices

12
Income Generating Programme

• Takes place in some Centres as a component of
  parenting programmes
• Parents identify and develop talents/skills by
  making items for sale ornamental dolls,
  teaching/learning materials and garments are
  popular items
• Skills learnt transferred to PTA to which parents
  belong

13
Disability Awareness Programme

• Programme first tried in the Manchester Centre
• Practitioners trained by 3D Projects in
  Disability Awareness and Care
• A success as participants reported being better
  able to serve children with learning and physical
  disabilities

14
Exercise

• How many learning Centres can you name?

15
Conclusion

• The ECRC is an institution that plays a vital
  role in ECD in Jamaica in
• providing key support services for successful
  curriculum implementation
• Partnering with parents and community for
  financial and other support
• Advocating for excellence in ECD