ST James, Jamaica (JIS) – More than 130 people, including students of Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College, members of the Early Childhood Commission and the National Education Trust, were hosted by the Jamaica Diaspora Biennial Conference at its Day of Service held at the college in Granville, St James, on Thursday, June 18.

The event focused on a number of topics affecting parishes across Jamaica, one of which was Early Childhood Development, under the theme: ‘Strengthening capacities for improved learning outcomes’.

Several interactive workshops and lectures aimed at assisting teachers and supporting members of the Early Childhood education landscape were conducted. Topics covered included: ‘Skills for effective parent engagement’, ‘Trauma and young children’ and ‘Early Childhood education career choices’.

Principal of Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College, Dr Asburn Pinnock, told JIS News that the workshops were “very successful” and practising teachers as well as students in training were visibly motivated, as they look forward to the start of the new school year in September.

“We all have benefited from the workshops and I believe that these kinds of interactive workshops and the kind of knowledge, interaction and experience are priceless. I don’t think we can ever put a dollar figure on these,” he said. “We got the chance to share knowledge and we got a diversity of information and strategies that can assist us in our training here at the college.”

Meanwhile, executive director of the Early Childhood Commission, Dr Joan Reid, said the education system at the early childhood level desperately needs “this type of collaborative effort”, as this is what is going to take the country into the future.

“With our partners coming from abroad enthused as they are, we encourage them because this is exactly what we need, for them to collaborate with us in order for us to do more for our children,” Reid said.

For his part, Chairman of the Jamaica Diaspora Education Task Force, Leo Gilling, told JIS News that the group was pleased with the outcome of the Diaspora Day of Service, as it was a “fitting closure to the successful five-day conference” held in Montego Bay.