A sixth group of Childminders received their certificates in a special event on Friday 27th September 2019 following an eight-week pre-registration and sensitisation training programme carried out by the Institute of Early Childhood Development (IECD) in collaboration with the ECCE Sectors and partner agencies.
In attendance were the 21 Childminders and their guests, the Minister for Education and Human Resource Development, Mrs. Jeanne Simeon, Chairman of the IECD Board Captain David Savy, the Chief Executive of IECD, Mrs. Shirley Choppy and Chairperson of the National Theme Steering Committee, Mr. Jude Fred among other guests.
In her speech, Minister Simeon congratulated the Childminders for successfully completing the training. ‘You have realized that this is a necessary bridge for you to cross, you have made this journey and I am sure that you are now ready to embark on the registration process which eventually will lead you to have the status of registered Childminders’, she said.
Minister Simeon with Childminders
The Training Coordinator, Ms. Marvel Simeon gave a brief overview of the 8-week training programme and thanked the facilitators who assisted the IECD in delivering the sessions. The Childminders covered a total of 48 hours of hands on experiences in the ten National Standards, namely: Health, Safety, Child Rights and Protection, Staffing, Early Learning, Interaction, Nutrition, Family and Community Engagement, Physical Environment and Administration. All sessions had theory and practical elements in equal duration which allowed the Childminders to put into practice the procedures they had learned, for instance handwashing anddiapering, fire safety, creating an activity chart among others.
Group photo of the Data Collectors with their certificates
The Minister also thanked the 14 Data Collectors who undertook field work in the recent Advocacy Survey on ECCE Issues for 2019. She highlighted that research is a core function of the IECD mandate. ‘It is important that we use research findings as evidence for policy decisions and actions as we move forward to strengthen our programmes and improve the level of service that we offer’, she expressed. The Data Collectors who were also present at the ceremony received their certificate of appreciation. ‘Today’s ceremony is a celebration of many aspects of IECD’s work. I take this opportunity to thank the IECD Board Members, Management Team and staff for their hard work. They are few but they work with a shared passion and strength of many. They accomplish so much that it
is sometimes unbelievable that they can do so from programme planning and implementation, coordination of training and research activities, organizing institutions activities like today’s event and other social
activities as well as coming up with initiative like the competition based on the National Theme relevant to their sector’, she concluded.
Poem Competition Winners
After the presentation of certificates, the winners of the Poem Competition, launched by the IECD on the theme ‘Valoriz KiltirTravay Dir Dan Pti Lanfans’ in support of the National Theme 2019, were announced and presented with their prizes. Project Officer, Mrs. Michelle Adeline, gave a brief overview about the competition which was opened to professionals from four sectors that is Education, Health, Social Affairs and IECD working in Early Childhood Care and Education. The competition was judged by three well-known writers and poets: Mrs. Marie Clarisse, Mr. Reuben Lespoir and Ms. Stephanie Joubert. There were seven winners in total, one from each ECCE sector and three overall national winners. Anne Gerry, a Primary One teacher from the Mont Fleuri Primary School was the overall winner of the competition, and she also clinched the 1st prize in the Education Sector. Ms Valencia Joubert, Ms Natasha Louise and Mrs Nathalie Moustache, were the first place winners in the Health, Social Affairs and IECD Sectors respectively. On the national level, second and third place titles were won by Ms. Kelly Joseph and Ms. Lynn Albert respectively, both Teachers from the Education Sector.
The evening ended on a joyful note with a few entertainments by the group of Childminders, a solo performance by a graduating Childminder, Ms. Esther Philoe as well as a poem recital by judges Marie Clarisse, Stephanie Joubert and Reuben Lespoir.
Anne Gerry – Winner Education and 1st Place Nationally
Kelly Joseph – 2nd Place Winner Nationally
Lynn Albert – Winner 3rd Place Nationally
Natasha Louise – Social Affairs Winner
Nathalie Moustache – Winner IECD
Valencia Joubert – Winner Health
