MONTEGO BAY, St James — Recent studies by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) have highlighted significant improvements in early childhood education (ECE) in Jamaica, while also underscoring persistent challenges.

The findings were shared during Monday’s opening ceremony of the Early Childhood Commission’s annual Professional Development Institute (PDI) at the Montego Bay Convention Centre.

Delivering the keynote address, Rokhaya Fall Diawara, education programme specialist and global early childhood care and education (ECCE) advisor at UNESCO, cited UNESCO’s 2020 Global Education Monitoring Report. It indicates that most Jamaican children aged four to five are enrolled in early childhood institutions.

“What we know at UNESCO is, here in Jamaica, progress has been notable. Over 95 per cent of children aged four to five are involved in early childhood institutions. Is it true? It’s what analysis of data is showing to us at UNESCO,” Diawara said.

A national framework has also been developed to uphold standards in key areas such as safety, nutrition, and learning outcomes.

Despite the progress, Diawara noted that concerns remain as the majority of ECE services in Jamaica are privately run, raising questions around equity, consistency, and the role of public responsibility. Additionally, experts underscored the importance of focusing on laying the foundation for learning later in life.

“Let’s be clear: ECCE does not begin at age three; it’s beginning at birth. If we are serious about equity and lifelong learning and lifelong impact, we must focus also on the first 1,000 days from conception,” Diawara emphasised.

Meanwhile, according to education specialist at UNICEF Jamaica Dr Rebecca Tortello, a 2022 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) in Jamaica revealed that 94 per cent of children are developmentally on track. However, the study also revealed areas of concern.

“That 94 per cent is a big win. It’s a big thing! It’s a big milestone to celebrate for our children, for our schools, for our parents, our communities,” Tortello told reporters.

“However, the MICS also told us that 40 per cent of our children are not on track in reading by the age of seven, or in math. Roughly 50 per cent are not on track in math at the age of seven so that tells us that we need to look more closely at what’s happening in those key five-year-old, six-year-old ages… those stages of the transition from the last year of what we call basic school into a first grade in primary school,” she added.

Tortello also highlighted the need for funding to establish more play areas.

“We want to encourage the interaction between other children but also with their parents, because those times on playgrounds make memories as well, happy memories, laughter — it’s priceless. So we’ve been doing some work, and we’re trying to find the funding to work with the Government and other partners to help increase these family-friendly spaces that make our cities more fit for not only our children but our families,” she said.