Trust fund to boost early childhood care |24 February 2011
The launch forms part of events to mark the official opening of the National Early Childhood
The trust fund also aims to ensure the sustainability and mobilise resources for the development of ECCE.
Attending the event yesterday at Au Cap primary school were Vice-President Danny Faure, Dr Mmantsetsa Marope, who is director of the division for basic to higher education and learning at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco), and Minister for Education, Employment and Human Resources Macsuzy Mondon.
Other guests included American childcare expert Dr Sharon Lynn Kagan, Christian Morabito – Unesco’s focal point in Mauritius – and Roland Alcindor, programme manager in the UN Development Programme’s office in Mauritius.
Minister for Social Development and Culture Bernard Shamlaye, principal secretaries, government officials, members of the board of trustees of the ECCE trust fund, representatives of the business sector and Au Cap’s headteacher Fatima Agathine were also present.
Mr Faure described the launch as a milestone event in early childhood development in Seychelles.
He said a wide body of evidence from research underlines the importance of investing in ECCE as the foundation for lifelong opportunities for children.
This is in terms of education, health and welfare, giving children an early start that makes them ready for success in school.
He added that investing in ECCE is also a way to invest in the wealth of our nation.
“It can provide family support through increased financial self-sufficiency while raising the child, allowing parents to go to work and contribute to the economy knowing their child is in a safe and caring environment,” he said.
Mr Faure said ECCE is also cost-effective in the sense that it is seen as a preventive measure.
“If we succeed in promoting and supporting young children’s development very early in life, we can prevent social and educational inequalities that can prove to be a disadvantage and prove more costly to society later,” he said.
Mr Faure added that investing in quality ECCE does more than pay significant returns to children and can also benefit taxpayers and enhance the economy.
He said there is a need to involve other partners so the policy framework goes beyond being only a declaration of intent to become the embodiment of their commitment to the wellbeing and future of the children and a reality for Seychelles.
Mr Faure said the government has pledged its initial contribution of R1 million and will continue to sustain this initiative.
He called on private individuals and businesses to show their corporate responsibility towards younger members of society.
“Any private individual or business contributing to the National ECCE Trust Fund will get a tax concession,” he said.
Rupert Simeon, director general for policy and strategy division in the Ministry of Finance, briefed those present on how this tax concession will work. The minimum donation to the fund is now set at R20.
The nine board members were also introduced to the audience, with Lambert Woodcock as its chairperson. Other members are from ministries, the private sector, convents and organisations affiliated to children’s wellbeing.
Dr Marope congratulated Seychelles for its commitment to early childhood care and education.
She said when ECCE is compared with other levels of human development, and looking at the proportion of the national budget allocated to primary education, invariably ECCE claims less than 20%.
She said this is even the case in countries that are funding ECCE very well.
During the launch, Mr Faure handed over a donation of educational materials to Mrs Agathine, which all state schools will later receive.