Opposition Member Hem Chand has applauded the Government’s move to regularise Early Childhood Education (ECE) teachers’ appointments and extend ECE classroom hours.
But he has called for careful planning, monitoring, and resource support to ensure no child or teacher is left behind.
Responding to Education Minister Aseri Radrodro’s ministerial statement on the rollout of full-day learning in ECE centres in Parliament on Monday, Mr Chand welcomed the move, saying it placed ECE teachers “on equal footing with other teaching staff”.
“I have always acknowledged the immensely important role of ECE teachers,” Mr Chand said.
“Two decades ago, I still remember, ECE teachers were paid as low as $50 a week.
“ECE teachers were paid by the school management until July 31, 2016.
“The salary rate for them was first confirmed on August 1, 2016.”
“It was the first time ECE teachers were absolved in civil service and Government started paying the full salaries of all ECE teachers.
“Previous government recognised the critical role of ECE teachers and gave them huge increment after the job evaluation exercise in 2017, because the teachers contribute significantly to the broader school environment and deserve good pay.”
Commenting on the major shift in learning hours for young children, Mr Chand said the change from half-day to full-day sessions marked a positive step.
However, he cautioned that the success of this initiative depended on proper implementation and close monitoring.
“ECE students were attending one session per day, that is four hours per day, but now, they will attend class the whole day, and it is very good to hear from the minister that the students are ready for the whole day class,” he said.
“The Ministry of Education should ensure that there is proper planning and also monitoring to ensure that ECE students adapt to whole day teaching and learning.
“The other important area is providing conducive teaching and learning environment to ECE students and also to the teachers, and the classroom should not be overcrowded.”
“Are all ECE centres ready? There are some centres which are not ready with necessary resources for a full day class.
“I hope the ministry will closely monitor all ECE centres including the stand alone ECE centres, to ensure ECE students are provided conducive learning environment and assist centres with resources where there is need.”