The better the early learning environment and the quality of teaching, the better the children are prepared for primary school. In response to this, the initiative focuses on pre-primary classes in ECD centres, where around 45% of children stay before entering primary school.
Most of the centres which are community-based and run as public primary classes lack quality facilities and the majority of caregivers are unqualified. Hence, it needs a more intense intervention package at ECD centres with a special emphasis on facility improvement and qualification of caregivers.
Our continued assessment of all ECD centres will inform improvement plans which will be implemented with the leadership of the CBCC management committees. The committees will be trained on the operations and management of a CBCC. ECD centres get monthly coaching visits to encourage change and provide on the spot support. Pre-primary classes will be matched according to minimal one visible upgrade, preferably a natural playground or enhancement of classrooms or adequate learning material.
Limited material support will be provided in line with the centre development plans. Inspiration and learning take place and are held between selected pre-primary facilities to establish collaboration and community peers. Pre-primary caregivers are being invited to participate in the Learning Groups together with Standard 1 teachers and coached in the use of the Early Learning Kiosk.
The content such as the KnowHow app and ChildSteps app is mainly for pre-primary caregivers but in particular, the ToolBox with a storybook, or the app on how to make toys with locally available material or a natural playground is of interest for the whole staff of the ECD centre.
