Regulations Coming For Early Childhood Education In BVI

TORTOLA — As the territory’s children began the New School year on Wednesday, the Education Minister Myron Walwyn announced that during this year and beyond, the Ministry will be establishing a regulatory system for the Early Childhood Sector, which will be guided by the Early Childhood Regulations.

Minster Walwyn said they will be working closely with the proprietors of Early Childhood Education establishments to ensure that our children receive that firm foundation needed to take them to the next level.

“We will be looking at ways to develop a sustainable funding strategy, which is supported by both public and private sector investment, working closely with H. Lavity Stoutt Community College on teacher training in this area and engaging parents and the community in the entire process”, Minister Walwyn said.

He said they must develop an early intervention policy which will involve a close collaboration with the Ministry of Health as we try to ensure that each child in the Virgin Islands has every opportunity to learn and reach their highest potential.

Special Needs Children

The Education Minister also said that as they continue to seek ways to better serve our differently abled students, over the next few years, we anticipate providing improved and expanded services to those students as we work to realise inclusive education. We have recently hired an Education Officer to exclusively manage the needs and services of students with special needs”.

He said this Officer has the exclusive responsibility to ensure that our public education system is adequately serving the needs of our differently abled population with equitable services and will be charged with completing a full assessment of areas of concern for our differently abled students at all levels and providing timely and measurable solutions to these challenges.

“We will be forging a closer relationship with the Ministry of Health to assist in the screening of students to help us better identify and support students with cognitive developmental challenges….During this school year, we will also commence training of teachers to support the early detection of students with special needs with the understanding that we must do more to provide educational support and opportunities to afford all of our students the chance to reach their full potential and the option to make contributions to the advancement of this Territory”, the Minister further said.’