Preschool Unit focuses on those not in school

Belize’s youngest children were at it again today as the preschool unit competes with the political process for the nation’s attention. Today the focus was on those preschool age children who are on the outside looking in. Jacqueline Woods has more.

Jacqueline Woods, Reporting

None of the two hundred children gathered here attend preschool. And that’s the problem the Ministry of Education has been trying to address through a number of activities like the stimulation exercise that took place today at the Holy Redeemer Parish Hall.

Jacqueline Woods

“Delda, I understand that about a quarter of our preschool aged children do not get the opportunity to attend preschool. Why is this?”

Delda Blades, Assistant Officer, Pre School Unit

“Most parents in Belize City cannot afford to send their children to preschool, that’s one of the main reasons. And the second reason is that they do not see the importance of getting their children stimulated at such a young age.”

To make those parents be aware of just how important preschool is to their children’s development, the Preschool Unit held an exercise to get the boys and girls between the ages of three and four years old involved in early learning activities.

Delda Blades

“The activities that will be taking place is the usual activities that you would find in a normal preschool setting. We have the circle time, we have math readiness, reading readiness, art and craft, storytelling and drama.

“Well we are trying to get parents awareness of the importance of early childhood education, and the importance of preschool activities, so as to get the children stimulated at a very young age and hopefully we will have a better enrolment coming in the new school year.”

The session cost two thousand, five hundred dollars and was funded by the Insurance Corporation of Belize. Jacqueline Woods for News 5.