Parents on the East Coast Demerara recently benefited from a workshop hosted by the Early Childhood (Nursery) Unit of the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD) in collaboration with the Department of Education – Region Four under the theme, “Parents, the Child’s first teacher”.
According to a press release from the Ministry of Education, presenters included Director of the Early Childhood Centre of Excellence and Assistant Dean Faculty of Education, University of Guyana Lidon Lashley, Special Education Needs Officer Yolanda Trotman-Phillips and Early Childhood – Nursery Officers Marisa Brandon and Deborah Hutson.
The press release said Lashley highlighted parental involvement as opposed to parental engagement and encouraged parents to work collectively to devise a guide for the best result for children during their educative lives. Trotman–Phillips’ presentation: ‘Special Education Needs and You’ highlighted the importance of early identification and intervention, and signs and symptoms to look for in identifying the possible presence of a special education need and the procedure of getting the child assessed and or diagnosed to provide appropriate support for him or her, the release said.
The release said Brandon and Hutson’s presentation: “Practical ways – the use of home-based resources” encouraged parents to creatively craft ways and strategies using home-based resources that encourage engagement and learning. The presenters demonstrated creative ways to teach or reinforce concepts taught at school, whilst spending quality time with their children.
The release also said that parent representatives of Nursery Schools/Classes on the East Bank Demerara – District 4 will also be treated to a Parental Sensitization Session at a later date.
