Guyana Hosts National Early Childhood Development Conference to Strengthen Standards and Partnerships
By Tiana Cole | HGP Nightly News
The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security hosted its Early Childhood Development (ECD) Conference on Monday at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, bringing together hundreds of educators, policymakers, and partners in a collaborative effort to enhance the quality of early childhood care and education across Guyana.
Delivering the feature address, Minister Dr. Vindhya Persaud emphasized the importance of collective dialogue in shaping the future of the nation’s youngest citizens:
“This conference was created to bring stakeholders together in a shared environment to exchange ideas, address challenges, and develop practical solutions,” she said.
The event, held under the theme “Elevating Early Childhood Development: Strengthening Standards, Enhancing Services, and Building Partnerships”, also supports the soon-to-be-launched Integrated Childhood Development Policy, which will include comprehensive guidelines and daily implementation activities aimed at improving early learning outcomes.
Minister Persaud highlighted some of the sector’s recent achievements:
- 1,003 early childhood practitioners have been trained nationwide
- Over 306 daycares currently operate in Guyana, with 350 licensed and registered
She reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to child safety and protection:
“We must keep every child safe because every child deserves an environment where safety is not an anomaly — but a norm.”
The conference brought together over 300 professionals, allowing them to network, share ideas, and enhance their skills. The forum was hosted in collaboration with UNICEF and the Government of Canada, signaling strong international support for Guyana’s ongoing efforts to improve early childhood development and build a solid foundation for every child’s future.