Guyana hosts inaugural Early Childhood Development conference

…as focus placed on strengthen childcare systems, safety standards

More than 300 stakeholders gathered on Monday morning for the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security’s inaugural Early Childhood Development (ECD) Conference, aimed at enhancing services, systems, and inter-agency collaboration for the care and education of young children in Guyana.

Held in partnership with key organisations including the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, the University of Guyana (UG), and other supporting agencies, the conference brought together early childhood practitioners, caregivers, educators, and policy experts to highlight achievements in the sector and chart a course for continued progress.
The conference, hosted at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) featured presentations from a wide range of contributors, including Fiona Persaud of UNICEF, Chief Fire Officer, Gregory Wickham, Dr Karen Lashley of the UG’s ECD Department, and Dr Michelle McBean, Head of the ECD Unit, who delivered the keynote address.
During the forum, several significant milestones in early childhood development were outlined. Among the achievements highlighted were the training of 1,003 early childhood practitioners, the graduation of 50 individuals through the Women’s Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN) in ECD-specific training, the establishment of 17 new daycares supported through grants, and the licensing of 350 daycare centres across the country.
Additional accomplishments include the introduction of a new academic course in early childhood development, the formulation of a national home-based care policy and programme, and the planned expansion of community care facilities—signaling a comprehensive, multi-pronged approach to support early learning and child welfare. Key themes underscored during the conference included the need for expanded and consistent training to ensure all centres are staffed by qualified personnel, stronger fire and safety protocols to safeguard children, and increased support for parenting education and engagement.
Stakeholders also emphasised the importance of nurturing environments, not only in institutional settings but within homes and communities, as foundational to a child’s cognitive and emotional development.
The conference also paid tribute to the dedicated efforts of the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA), particularly the ECD Unit led by Ms Patricia Gray and its Director, Ms Ann Greene-Gouveia, whose leadership has been central to implementing many of the recent developments in the sector.
Support from international partners such as UNICEF and the Government of Canada was also acknowledged, alongside recognition for the tireless staff of the CPA and the broader network of local professionals committed to improving early childhood services nationwide.