14 Aug 2012

Survey reveals early childhood sector facing continuing challenges

1:30 pm on 14 August 2012

A survey by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat has revealed there are continuing challenges facing the early childhood care and education subsector in the region.

The baseline survey of the Pacific Education Development Framework concludes there has been rapid growth and national support towards early childhood care and education in the 13 countries surveyed.

The Acting Secretary General of the Forum Secretariat, Feleti Teo, says the results show regional governments are making progress in supporting non-government organisations and communities in developing the subsector.

However, the survey shows some countries are facing challenges with establishing viable and sustainable early childhood care and education centres, providing quality teaching and learning resources, remuneration and teacher training programmes.