Sept. 15, 191- Aug. 25, 1988

Educator who made significant contributions to the development of early childhood education in the region and is often referred to as the ‘Father of Basic Schools’ in Jamaica. Dudley Grant developed the U.W.I. Institute of Education In-service course for untrained teachers in the Eastern Caribbean and went on to organize the first training programmed for teacher trainers in this same Caribbean area.

During the period 1967-1968, while on secondment to the Ministry of Education Jamaica, he started the first teaching internship programme which has become a major component of the teacher education programme in Jamaica.D.R.B. Grant also conceived and implemented the Project for Early Childhood Education (P.E.C.E.) which was funded by the van Leer Foundation of Holland. He directed this project from 1966-1987. He became a highly respected international authority in the field of early childhood education and occupied various consulting and advisory roles. In 1972, D.R.B. Grant was appointed by the Ministry to Education, Jamaica as a member of the Committee for an In-depth Study for Primary Education. He also played a pivotal role in the design and organization of the Hope Valley Experimental School.

In recognition of D.R.B. Grant’s contribution to early childhood education, the University of the West Indies, Mona has named the Early Childhood Resource Centre in his honour. In addition, the Dudley Grant Memorial Trust (DGMT) was established through the Bernard van Leer Foundation in 1989 to commemorate his life and work.