EXCERPTS
The government plans to open a dozen early childhood centres for the use of all preschool aged children in the country by the end of the year.
Minister of Education Esther Le Gendre told the Sunday Express yesterday: "The Ministry of Education will be opening five of these Early Childhood Centres (ECC) by mid-April in various areas including Ortoire, El Socorro, Palo Seco and Santa Flora.
At the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newest ECC located on Bally Road, Tacarigua, the minister said another 11 are expected to be built by 2008 and another 36 are being planned and will be built throughout her term in government.
By 2012, Le Gendre said the government wants to have 600 of these ECCs in areas throughout Trinidad and Tobago.
She said the ministry would send a team to Canada to observe how ECCs in that country are built.
She said that the one which was opened yesterday in Tacarigua was well thought out and its design was well planned.
The school has skid-resistant flooring and bathrooms designed to grant easy access to differently abled children. Le Gendre also said all cleaning at the school will be of the highest standards.
...
- reprinted from the Trinidad and Tobago Express