Pre-schoolers march in favour of early education

We may look with concern at the high number of high school dropouts but more children than ever are getting an early start on education. Nowhere is this trend more evident than during the month of March. News Five’s Marion Ali reports.

Marion Ali, Reporting
Over one thousand children from preschools across Belize City braved the hot afternoon sun to march their way from Court House Wharf to Memorial Park. The event, planned by the Belize District Pre-School Teachers’ Association, ended in a rally and marked the start of Child Stimulation Month, promoting those first years of education. But the purpose behind it was more than just to show off the kids.

Gwendolyn Jones, Pres., Bze District Pre-School Teacher’s Assn.
“The parade is to sensitise the public about child stimulation month and the parade is just to give them a small amount of what is happening for the month. Different activities like sports day, flag day, hug day, cultural day, they visit different community centres like fire station, police station, and they invite grandparents to give stories.”

“They enjoy having the parade, getting treats, doing lots of activities to get the parents involved with their children learning.”

And getting involved was exactly what many parents did today, despite the sweltering heat.

Nellie Flores, Mother of Pre-schooler
“Gial dah true, di sun hot but I come out just fi promote my son and give him the opportunity that many kids would want to have weh noh have right now.”

Marion Ali
“So it’s important for you to come out and support him in this parade?”

Nellie Flores
“Yes Ma’am, and I wish for all the other parents to do the same.”

Janet Gray, Grandmother of Pre-schooler
“Without coming out I feel like I’m losing out on his childhood and enjoying what is good for him. Because after you have missed the preschool part then you start missing on the rest of their life.”

And that’s what events like today’s and others planned for the month of March aim to prevent, according to President of the Belize District Pre-School Teachers’ Association, Gwendolyn Jones.

Gwendolyn Jones
“We have different activities where the parents are still involved throughout the whole year so that will bring the awareness and the importance of pre-school years.”

Reporting for News Five, Marion Ali

Child Stimulation Month is being observed under the theme: Early Childhood Education, Empowering Future Generations.