Interview with Mr. Selby Dora, Service Provider for Regulatory Matters
Tell us about the transition process in the transfer of child care regulatory role from Ministry of Education to IECD
According to Ministry of Education records, legal responsibility for Day Care service was a component of the Education Act 2004.
Arising from this Act the regulation of Day Care services was through the subsidiary Law (Non-Formal Early Childhood Education Centre) Regulations 2005.
As part of the process of the review of the Education Act 2004, which resulted in education (amendment) Act 2017, it was decided that the legal responsibilities for Day Care to be discontinued by the Ministry of Education and to be transferred under IECD. To note that IECD became into existence with the enactment of the IECD Act 2014 to regulate and register child care service providers through its regulations (IECD National Standards on Childminding Regulations, 2016.) Following the promulgation of the ECD Act 2022, a formal handing over has been done by the Ministry of Education and the Institute has commenced preparations to take the legal responsibility for Child Care services in both the homes and centres.
Prior to the enactment of the ECD Act 2022, IECD took the initiative and conducted an audit in all registered child care centres to establish the level of service provision in line with the proposed national standards. Based on the findings of the audit, IECD put together a multi-sectoral team of all relevant partners and convened several working sessions to discuss and formulate a new set of national quality standards for the centres. In collaboration with the Attorney’s Office, a draft regulations Early Childhood Development (National Standards for Child Care Centres) Regulations, 2024 was produced to replace the SI -Non-Formal Early Childhood Education Centre, Regulations 2005.
Can you tell us about the newly formulated National Standard for Centre-Based Childcare Services and what it aims to achieve?
The “Early Childhood Development (National Standards for Child Care Centres) Regulations, 2024,” constitute statements of 10 national standards and provisions are agreed-upon markers and measurement of quality established in areas critical to effective services, programmes and child outcomes, and they create a common definition of quality for child care providers, policymakers, parents and the general public, as well as can be used as an educational tool for everyone involved in this field. It seeks to bring about improvements in the overall quality of different dimension of Centre-Based Childcare services, with a view to enhance the holistic development of the child, particularly in the zero to three-year age group.
What role did you play in the development of this new regulation?
As a senior official at the Ministry of Education who had responsibilities for Regulatory matters, I was privileged to play a leading role in the formulation process of Education Act 2004, its regulations of 2005 and many subsequent legal frameworks. Based on these experiences, I played a significant role in assisting with the transition of the legal responsibilities for Day Care from the Ministry of Education to the Institute of Early Childhood Development. This transition process included engagement in the many stages of the formulation of the current and proposed “Early Childhood Development (National Standards for Child Care Centres) Regulations, 2024” following the enactment of the Early Childhood Development Act 2022.
How do you believe this new set of standards will improve the quality of child care services in the country?
It is anticipated that by improving the quality of the many dimension of Centre-Based Child Care services through the ten comprehensive standards and related provisions, the quality of the child care services in the country will be significantly enhanced. To note that the SI 2005 does not necessarily consists standards but rather administrative procedures for the registration and operation of child care services.
What are some key changes or updates in the new standards compared to the previous one?
Some notable differences between the ‘Education (Non-Formal Early Childhood Education Centre) Regulations 2005’, and the ‘Early Childhood Development (National Standards for Child Care Centres) Regulations, 2024’ is that in the case of the latter, there are quality standards, related provisions and obligations, and these are in more details and relatively comprehensive in nature.
How will the implementation of this proposed regulations benefit child care providers, parents, and most importantly, the children?
It is anticipated that child care providers particularly managers and programme staff will have sound knowledge and understanding of the standards and obligations, and as such they will be in a better position to provide quality child care service and meet the mandatory requirements of the set standards. As for the parents, we are all aware that parents place greater emphasis on quality child care now more than ever before. We hope that it will provide them with a greater sense of assurance where quality learning and holistic development of a child are concerned, within a Centre-Based Childcare setting. Research has shown that high-quality early childhood standards has positive impacts on young children who attended child care programmes and their development. Some of the benefits, which I have noted from the various work encounters at the Institute include: improves social skills, increases chances of success later in life, helps with brain development, boost confidence and independence, support transition to school among others.
What do you anticipate to be the primary challenge in implementing this new standard, and how might they impact the overall transition process?
The transition and implementation process from the previous legal framework to the new legal framework for the existing child care services is going to be one of the critical challenges ahead. Having recognize this challenge, the Institute has already developed a plan of action focusing on sensitisation of all personnel currently involved in centre-based child care services, parents and the public in general, supported by a planned comprehensive media campaign. The first phase of the action plan was executed through a sensitisation session in May-June 2024 and it will be continued following the gazetting of the “Early Childhood Development (National Standards for Child Care Centres) Regulations, 2024,”
How can child care providers prepare themselves to meet the requirements of this new national standards?
As part of the process of preparing themselves to meet the requirements of these new standards and obligations, it is critical that the child care providers make time to familiarise themselves with and understand the contents of the ECD Act 2022 and the proposed ECD (National Standards for Child Care Centres) Regulations, 2024, and seek guidance and clarification from the Institute and also the relevant partners in ECCE as and when necessary.
In the context of the Institute motto, “A winning start for all” (children, parents, partners ect…), I am of the view that the new regulations will positively enhance all, who in one way or another will be impacted by these standards, on condition that they are effectively implemented in a sustained manner at the level of all registered child care services. Considering that the standards are legally binding, it is in the interest of the managers and the employed personnel to do all that is necessary to comply with the standards’ minimum requirements, as non-compliance may result in sanctions taken against the registered child care service.
