The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, through its Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA), in collaboration with UNICEF and the Government of Canada, has launched Guyana’s first National Integrated Early Childhood Development Policy (NIECD) and accompanying guidelines.
The launch took place on Monday at the Herdmanston Lodge Conference Room, marking a major milestone in the country’s efforts to improve the care, development, and learning outcomes of children from ages zero to three.
The NIECD policy sets out a coordinated, inclusive strategy for delivering high-quality early childhood services that promote the health, well-being, and development of young children. It aims to foster lifelong learning and ensure every child is allowed to thrive in a safe and nurturing environment.
Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Hon. Dr. Vindhya Persaud, said the policy was born from months of dedicated work and constant consultations, ensuring its comprehensive, progressive, and all-encompassing.
“This policy places children at its centre. Early childhood development is very significant in the lives of children. It allows us to assess their developmental milestones and provides a vantage point to evaluate their emotional stability and overall well-being. At a very early stage, we can identify when children require extra care or intervention, often involving not just their parents, but also experts to ensure they enjoy a better quality of life,” Minister Persaud explained.
While the policy itself is important, the Minister emphasised the need for a clear framework to ensure its goals are effectively realised. To this end, the Ministry has established a series of targeted objectives that the policy is designed to achieve.
According to Minister Persaud, “The targets involve pregnant and breastfeeding women who understand what early childhood development is to promote healthy birth and children. We want every child aged zero to three years to experience good health, adequate nutrition, safety, security, responsive caregiving, and opportunities for early learning.”
To help meet these goals, the CPA has already trained a number of Early Childhood Development (ECD) Practitioners and supported the transformation of day-care centres into centres of excellence through the provision of grants.
So far, the Ministry has registered 400 early childhood facilities and has officially licensed 365 of them.
Importantly, the NIECD policy is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030, reinforcing Guyana’s commitment to advancing the rights and development of all children.
Furthermore, Minister Persaud highlighted the significance of nationwide collaboration in developing programmes and policies aimed at improving the lives of the country’s children.
“What is important in all of this is our national collaboration, our stakeholders, and our partnerships that were pivotal to the success of the implementation of the policy and its guidelines. We must ensure that there is always a robust partnership among the Ministries of health, education, local government, and human services,” the Minister underscored.
The launch of the NIECD policy represents a transformative step in Guyana’s approach to early childhood development, setting a strong foundation for generations to come.
