All 415 Government-run early childhood institutions (ECIs) have applied for registration, according to the latest data from the Early Childhood Commission (ECC).

“… This is very historic as previously we have seen a number of delinquent schools that included Government-operated ECIs,” chairman of Regulations and Certification Committee at the ECC David Salmon told the Jamaica Observer.

Salmon noted that there are currently 54 delinquent ECIs, but there are no Government-operated schools included, up to August 31 2022.

Previously, data from the ECC, showed that there was a total of 140 delinquent ECIs up to February 26, 2021, of which 24 were Government-run institutions.

“Registration is very important because, according to the Section (3) of the Early Childhood Act (2005), all early childhood institutions must be registered. Any early childhood institution which is not registered is operating illegally,” he said.

“Now that all Government operated ECIs are registered, and also private early childhood institutions are being registered, we can see where we have moved in a direction where standards matter and standards count,” Salmon added.

At the same time, Salmon noted that the achievement is quite fitting for 2022, which is recognised as the year of Early Childhood Development.

“We must recognise that we have never seen all of this data presented at one time in the history of early childhood education nationally and we have seen where parents have been taking interest in the sector where they are also advocating for the schools to be registered,” he said.

“I am happy that we have reached this milestone and I would like to commend the ECC team who worked over the summer to ensure that 16 schools were certified and two additional schools were recertified,” said Salmon.

There are 2,346 ECIs in operation across the island, of which 1,931 are private-owned.