Getting to Know Your International Contacts—Part 3

In connecting with my international contact this week I only got response from my contact in Jamaica, and she responded with these answers.

 Question 1-We are currently looking at health issues concerning our children. Recently a report was made about the progress of the new health passports that are now used by our parents/health sector. This health passport gives health details on our children from the time of birth through to adolescent. The aim of the passport is to properly inform parents and early childhood/elementary institutions about engaging in healthy practices. Resources are also a big issue for us. The National Baking Company has a fund raising activity for the early childhood institutions. Every loaf of bread sold the company donates a fraction of the sales to getting resources for the early childhood institutions. The company calls this the “Crayons Count Project. So far schools have received at least two boxes of resources from the company. Nutrition is also a big issue. I know of at least two companies in Jamaica that has adopted early childhood institutions by feeding the children, that is, the children receive breakfast and lunch from these companies.
Question 2- Unfortunately a lot is being said about early childhood in Jamaica but not much financial resources are being pumped into the field. Scholarships are being granted through the CHASE Fund for persons who want to pursue a career in early childhood. The government also gives a subsidy of $200 US per month to the practitioners. Unfortunately this is not enough because not all teachers are entitled to this subsidy because they do not have the number of students at the institution. The ratio should be 1 practitioner to 30 children yet the standards ask for 1 practitioner to 10 children in the age groups 3 to 6 years.
Question 3- My professional goals haven’t changed much. I am now more focused in achieving them. My goal is to be that voice for early childhood. In other words to advocate for quality early childhood education which encompasses trained professionals that are paid competitive wages and working conditions.
Question 4-My hope is that in the near future early childhood will receive the respect and attention it deserves. My dream is for every parent to be mandated to participate in compulsory education on early childhood development. This I believe will help with the development and sustainability of any country. The days of ignorance need to be a thing of the past. When parents are also informed it makes the practitioner work a bit easier. There are many challenges but the greatest challenge we have at this moment are resources, that is, money. We are constantly being faced with budget cuts for early childhood, which is greatly impacting on our work as early childhood professionals.

In this weeks assignments I have gained insight on how being a professional is very important in this field not that It is not important in any other profession but, Dr. Vasquez enlightened me on being a professional. In this profession we have a responsibility in this profession, this is a life investment. This profession is very important we are not just babysitters we are educators.