The IECD/UNESCO Category 2 Institute is gearing up for its 6th edition of the Assessment of Early Learning Readiness, scheduled to take place in between August and October 2024. As part of the preparation, all child care service providers on Mahe and the Inner Islands have participated in sensitisation meetings to familiarize themselves with the assessment procedure.
The last session was held on Praslin on July 20th, where childminders and child care managers were informed about the importance of their role in this assessment. The Assessment of Early Learning Readiness requires parents to provide their consent for their child’s participation and complete a questionnaire.
Trained data collectors, mainly retired educators, will conduct the assessment. These educators have received specialized training from IECD to ensure the assessment is conducted effectively and accurately.
The IECD is now calling on parents of children aged 3 and 4 years old who will be joining creche or preschool in 2025 to participate in this year’s assessment. This annual evaluation aims to assess the learning readiness of children in this age group enrolled in both registered and unregistered child care services by identifying their strengths and areas of growth before they transition to the next level of schooling.
The assessment focuses on three key domains: pre-language, pre-numeracy, and social-emotional learning. A total of around 1,300 young children are expected to take part in the assessment, which has been conducted annually since 2019.
Over the past 5 years, the overall readiness level has seen continuous progress by successive cohorts of children participating in the assessment, reaching 88.8% in 2023.
By participating in this assessment, parents can gain valuable insights into their child’s development and receive recommendations for improvement. The IECD encourages all eligible parents to take part in this initiative to support their child’s educational journey.
