Africa-Press – Seychelles. A group of 42 prospective childminders (including 3 refreshers on mandatory standards) have received their certificate after completing with success the 11th Pre-Registration, Sensitisation and Training Programme.
The certificate presentation ceremony took place on Saturday at the SYC conference room.
The 11th group of childminders were enrolled on the programme from April 15 to June 10, 2023, during which they have had an array of sessions and training based on the ten National Standards, as stipulated in the IECD National Standards on Childminding Regulation (2016), needed to operate as a home-based childminding service.
Upon receiving their certificates of completion, these childminders will be eligible to begin the necessary formalities to register their services with the IECD.
These weeks of training and sessions have been successful due to the partnership and joint collaboration between key Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) sectors and partner agencies, namely Ministry of Health particularly the Health Care Agency and Public Health Authority; Ministry of Employment and Social Affairs; Seychelles Fire and Rescue Services Agency; National Sports Council; among other external partners.
The ceremony also witnessed IECD rewarding 22 childminders for achieving 100% compliance with the national standards in place to run a home-based childcare service.
In her speech the chief executive of IECD, Shirley Choppy, said that IECD is exceedingly proud to reach these milestones successfully.
She added that it is benefiting to promote and showcase the accomplishments of the childcare providers, as there is an aggressive drive internationally to strengthen ECCE systems.
Improving quality regulatory and quality assurance frameworks and polices to ensure children get a winning start in life is part of the commitment for action enclosed in the Taskent Declaration 2022.
“I am very happy to note that we have already taken bold steps to fulfil the commitment for action and in most cases, we are well advanced compared to other countries worldwide and even in the region,” she said.
While addressing the participants, she said: “We count on you to take up the challenge and help the country, help the institute and the ministry’s endeavours to meet the increasing needs and demands for this crucial service in our communities,” she said.
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