Early childhood education (ECE) or nursery education is so much more than just preparing children for primary school; it also provides the basis for a child to grow expressively.
This week from July 24 to July 28, students from ECE schools will participate in organised events to mark their annual celebration.
This year’s ECE theme is “Early Learning Matters: Learning through Connections”.
The event included ECE centres from around the Central Division, mainly from the three provinces, Rewa, Naitasiri and Tailevu.
The event was a jovial one as seen on the faces of the young students, during their item presentation for guests at the event.
Fun activities and a hearty meal were also part of the celebration.
Ministry of Education Assistant Minister, Iliesa Vanawalu who opened the ECE week celebration at Nausori Primary School last week, said the celebration aimed to instil a better understanding of the role every individual played in society in terms of nurturing the lives of ECE aged students.
Mr Vanawalu said nurturing of ECE students should be wholesome and uplifting
He said when everyone gets safely connected to each other in the ECE learning process, ECE students excel.
“It is vital that we get connected in a wholesome and ethical way so that we set and pave the right direction for ECE students through the learning centres they are in,” he said.
“When there is good mutual understanding and connections between parents, teachers, communities, faith (based) organisations, non-governmental organisation, partners in education, the ECE aged child at the centre will blossom to be the kind of product we dream to produce in our education system.”
ECE according to the Ministry of Education’s ECE Policy implemented in 2007 aims to promote the total learning and holistic development and needs of the child socially, emotionally, physically, spiritually, through language and cognitively.
The celebration was held after a lapse of three years.
It marked the opening of the ECE week celebrations around the country too.
