7th Meeting and 2nd Interamerican CSR & Early Childhood Meeting

October 11- 12 2012Marie Archer HitchinsBarita Education Foundation (BEF)Kingston, Jamaica*

Demographic Overview Jamaica is a small island in the CaribbeanPopulation approximately 3MOfficial Language EnglishSpoken Language - Jamaican Creole

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Economic Overview Moved from what was mainly agrarian economy to a service oriented economyGDP Per Capita US$5,562 - 2011 (WB) Unemployment 14.3% - 2012 (STATIN) Debt to GDP Ratio 128.3% - 2010 (PIOJ)Global Competitive Index 2011-2012 ranked Jamaica at 107 out of 142 countries*

Global Competitiveness Why are we here & How do we increase our competitiveness?Have we invested enough in human & social capital?Is our economic underperformance tied educational underperformance?What can we do about it?

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Educational Challenges Children underperforming at primary and secondary levels.

Thirty Percent of primary school graduates can illiterate

Fifty Five Percent innumerate

National Council on Education (NCE)2009

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Implications for Development

A service economy requires a labour force that is:LiterateNumerateAble to think criticallyAble to communicate effectively in English*

Hence the Need for a highly developed ECE programme in Jamaica *

Overview Early Childhood Sector

2,000 pre-schools & day-care centersNinety Percent Enrollment in pre-schoolsChurches heavily invested in pre-schools & primary schools

This indicates that parents have bought into the importance of education at the early childhood level.

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Community Schools99% of the pre-schools and day-care centers are community based and privately operated Schools must have a Board of ManagementThe Operators are Members of the communityOperators & teachers inadequately trained*

The ModelCommunity-basedPrivately owned & operatedLow-costDelivered by untrained personnel High coverage nationally99% enrollmentCommunity & Parent supportPolicy Support*

Is The Model Working & what are the Policy Implications?*

Governments Commitment 2004 established Early Childhood Commission (ECC). An inter-sectoral body comprising health, education and social welfare servicesResponsible for:Developing Policy & RegulationsRegulating Programmes & Services Establishing StandardsSchool Inspections*

The Early Childhood CommissionEstablishment of a comprehensive legal, regulatory and policy framework:

Early Childhood Act and Regulations, 2005National Plan of Action for ECDNational Strategic Plan for ECDNational Parenting PolicyNational Parenting Support Commission *

ECE as a Social Contract

The Early Childhood Programme in Jamaica is a tripartite arrangement between the:

Community Government Private sector .*

Barita Education Foundation Managed by a private sector companyEngaged in ECECritical PlayerA model for CSR in Early Childhood Education

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BEF Board & Students with Former Minister of Education/Prime Minister*

Barita Education Foundation: VisionStudents acquire strong foundational skills in Literacy and Numeracy Students transition successfully to Primary School Teachers equipped with skills in Numeracy and Literacy instruction for effective teachingParents equipped to support their childrenOptimum educational outcomes for Partner Schools

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The Friends & Barita InvestmentsFive-year community based literacy project managed by three businesswomenBarita Investments Ltd., the oldest stock brokerage firm in Jamaica, principal sponsorProgramme assumed by Barita Investments Ltd.Foundation established in 2004Focus on training, skills transfer & instruction

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Barita Education Foundation: Board of Directors*

The ProgrammeThe BEF Programme is a Two-year intervention which focuses on:LiteracyNumeracyParenting supportUsing an integrated Agenda that incorporatesTeachers & Parents *

Barita Education Foundation Enhancement Programme*

LiteracyEnhance the knowledge and instructional skills of Pre- School teachers in: Letter knowledgeWord RecognitionPhonicsComprehensionPenmanship and Writing

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Building Fluent Readers*

NumeracyThe B.E.F. Teachers lead the guided learning sessions with demonstrations that connect knowledge and application.

ClassificationSeriationNumber senseMeasurement

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Life-long Problem Solving Skills*

Parenting SupportSocial workers arrange discussions and activities to:

Promote parenting awarenessImprove parenting skillsEncourage participation in schools activities

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The BEF Team*

School SelectionNeed-based Process of EvaluationWeakest schools selectedMost vulnerable schools selected

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Evidence-based ImplementationEvery child is assessed. A programme of instruction is developed in order to:Improve the level of learning for each child.Train the classroom teacher in the most current approaches & strategies in planning, instruction & class management with special emphasis on reading and arithmetic. Each school is allocated one trained teacher who acts as a Mentor Teacher.The Mentor Teachers are supervised by the Programme Coordinator.

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Outcomes Students engaged in the learning processStudents learning at the pace and at the level required for their age groupTeachers empowered with new knowledge & technologiesParents encouraged by the processCommunity benefits *

Results *

Best Practices AssessmentTrainingActive Engagement and Supervision by the Board of BEF Signed contracts of agreement between the school and BEF.Consultation with ParentsParents advised of the programmes implementations *

Challenges Inability of the host teacher to carry on the programme and transfer knowledge after BEF exit.Modified the programme to address these needs. Included a monitoring mechanism.*

Corporate Social ResponsibilityNational EngagementPrivate Sector awarenessPrivate Sector commitment

Financial SupportTechnical ExpertiseManagement Support

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Corporate Social ResponsibilityIn Jamaica we have now come to the point in our development where companies are beginning to understand that CSR is not charity, but rather an investment in their communities which over the long term will redound to them.*

CSR in Early Childhood Development the Cornerstone of economic development. Lets Make A Difference !!!!!!!!! *

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