JAN 10

Fifty-three Grenadians have graduated from a six month Early Childhood Care Training Course following a ceremony held last Monday at the Public Workers Union (PWU) building at Tanteen.

Organised by the Ministry of Social Services, Gender and Family Affairs, the course provides Caregivers on the island with an opportunity to improve their skills and to become competent employees.

The programme was piloted in 2000 after a needs assessment was done in 1999 and showed that over 50% of Caregivers in the country had little skills and did not received any formal training in their profession.

Grenada is the first country in the sub-regional Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the second in the wider Caribbean Community (CARICOM) after Jamaica, to facilitate such a training exercise.
At the end of the six month course, participants were presented with certificates from the National Council on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (NCTVET).

The certificate, recognised throughout the British Commonwealth, qualifies trainees to seek employment in any of the territories.

Speaking at the ceremony, Social Worker Arlene Daniel praised the graduants for completing the training exercise and told them that their new skill will help improve their social standing since their profession is viewed by many as one that has no value in the country.

Daniel described caregiving as one of the most underpaid professions in Grenada and called on parents to invest more in their children.
She pointed out that if society wants model citizens then it is not enough to only feed, bathe and clothe an infant but parents should play a more active role in their children's development.

The Social Worker is also of the view that there is a need for more men to get involved in caregiving as a means of gender balance in the profession.
Of the sixty five persons enrolled in the programme, fifty -three of them completed it.

During the ceremony, two special awards were presented, one to Ruth Shade from the sister isle of Carriacou who was adjudged the Most Determined Student while Rushel Collier copped the award for the Most Outstanding Caregiver.
The Ministry of Social Services has already announced another training exercise for later in the month, targeting Supervisors and Assistant Supervisors of Day Care facilities.

It was also agreed that the Caregivers training programme will be extended to the parish of St. David's.