In a significant policy shift, the Jamaican Government has revealed its willingness to assume complete management of early childhood education institutions to address systemic infrastructure and resource challenges. The announcement was made by Senator Dr. Dana Morris Dixon, Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, during the two-day Dudley Grant Early Childhood Education Resource Centre colloquium at The University of the West Indies Regional Headquarters.
Minister Morris Dixon explained that while many early childhood institutions operate as private non-governmental entities, the administration has begun offering to take over their operations entirely. ‘Some have agreed and some said ‘No, we prefer to remain independent’,’ she noted during her presentation, adding that the government remains committed to providing necessary support even to institutions choosing to maintain their independence.
The recent devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm that struck Jamaica on October 28, brought urgent attention to building standards and climate resilience in the education sector. Minister Morris Dixon emphasized that outdated construction standards are inadequate against increasingly severe weather patterns, stating, ‘All new projects have to be executed against stronger standards.’
In response to hurricane recovery needs, the government has arranged a meeting with the Jamaica Independent Schools Association and the Development Bank of Jamaica to explore how independent schools can access the $1-billion recovery fund available through approved financial institutions.
Professor Zoyah Kinkead-Clarke, early childhood education expert and deputy dean of graduate studies at UWI’s Faculty of Humanities and Education, highlighted the sector’s vulnerability, noting that many institutions struggle financially. ‘Many of these early childhood institutions are struggling to pay the rent. Where are they going to get the funds to build back?’ she questioned, calling for increased support for the sector that serves approximately 120,000 children through 2,400 institutions with 11,000 practitioners.
Professor Kinkead-Clarke emphasized the foundational importance of early childhood education, connecting it directly to Jamaica’s Vision 2030 national development plan. The colloquium, hosted by Jamaica National Foundation in collaboration with The UWI School of Education, focused on developing actionable strategies to address deficiencies in Jamaica’s early childhood education system through policy, practice, and partnership.