CHASE signs MOU for training of early childhood teachers

THE Culture, Health, Arts, Sports, Education (CHASE) Fund has formalised its funding arrangement with six teacher-training institutions for the provision of scholarships in early childhood education at the undergraduate and post-graduate levels.

Under the initiative, CHASE has to date awarded 3,383 scholarships valued at over $284 million at the undergraduate level, and in 2014/15, has committed $60 million for teacher training, which includes bachelor's and master's degrees, as well as doctorates at local and overseas institutions.

The memorandum of understanding, which was signed on November 11 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, establishes the platform for administering, monitoring and assessing the scholarship programme.

The initiative dovetails into the Ministry of Education's thrust to ensure that the qualifications of the cadre of teachers at the early childhood level are upgraded.

In his remarks, CEO of the CHASE Fund, William Haven, said it is critical that all partners abide by the guidelines of the MOU, which aims to build capacity in the early childhood sector.

He described the fund as having been the "vanguard of change" in early childhood education, providing just under $3 billion to the sector since its inception 11 years ago.

Meanwhile, chairman of the fund's education committee, Dr Rose Davies, explained that in 2005, when CHASE and the ministry began offering scholarships to early childhood teachers, there were some 7, 226 practitioners in 2, 629 institutions across the island. However, there were only 276 college-trained teachers.

Dr Davies said that although many were highly skilled, there was a deficiency in the level of professional development necessary for effectively delivering the early childhood curriculum.

"The CHASE Fund responded to the proposal to offer a scholarship fund for eligible candidates at the HEART Trust NTA, pursuing level II, as well as the diploma for students at teachers' colleges," she said, noting that this was upgraded to the bachelor of arts degree in 2012.