Gov’t funded pre-school opens on Brac
Outside playground for the nursery at the Creek site 
Inside the nursery at the Creek and Spot Bay Infant School 
Official opening of the nursery (L-R) Councillor Barbara Connolly, Councillor David Wight, Deputy Premier Moses Kirkconnell, Education Minister Juliana O’Connor-Connolly and MEYSAL Chief Officer Cetonya Cacho
(CNS): The Department of Education Services (DES) has opened a pre-school nursery located at the Creek and Spot Bay infant school on Cayman Brac as part of a publicly funded pilot project for kids who turned three this September. The nursery, which began accepting the children on 1 October, will not only focus on early academic learning through play but also on emotional learning.
All pre-schools in Cayman are privately owned with the single exception being the Cayman Brac Day Care Centre, which is run by District Administration rather than by the education ministry and where inspectors found significant weaknesses.
On Grand Cayman government in some cases gives parents vouchers to help cover the cost of pre-school education. But many of the early learning centres, pre-schools and nurseries have been found wanting during their inspections, with several receiving ‘weak’ or just ‘satisfactory’ grades, with a few notable exceptions.
As she formally opened the government’s pilot pre-school recently, Education Minister Juliana O’Connor-Connolly said the nursery was not confined to the catchment area of the primary school on the same site but all 3- and 4-year-old children on Cayman Brac.
“I am also delighted that the nursery will allow students an opportunity of
engaging in an academic play based curriculum that will better prepare them to transition into the newly adapted English curriculum,” the minister stated in a release about the opening of the government pre-school.
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Category: Education, Government Administration, Local News, Politics
Make sure there is plenty of sky fairy religious education. Gotta get these kids brainwashed early bobo.
Education initiatives for or children – Check Mark
So what if it is Gov funded, it is a step in the right direction.
Justify the need in your area, put a proposal plan together, and ask the CIG to do the same.
Don’t be mad, be happy that a set of children have educational access.
Any haters should be ashamed.
For the record, I am from the GCM.
We all have the same access here on the Island, its called reception.
I am happy for this, and would like to see more.
Before you go bashing my comment, think positively, speak to what are the pros, and consider what is the right thing to say and congratulate those children.
CNS: To clarify, both primary schools on the Brac already have Reception classes. This appears to be for children younger than Reception age.
Would be more newsworthy if it were something in the Brac that wasn’t government-funded…
I must agree and I live in Cayman Brac. I think it’s very wrong that everything is free. I paid for my children to go to daycare and it wasn’t much:$10.00 a day. They provide lunch and we provide snacks. Now they provide everything. All the people do is bawl and complain to the politicians and it’s free. I was shocked to find out that it was free.
Accepting nasty comments by Caymanians who live on the miserable crime and traffic infested island of GCM about why the sister islands doesn’t deserve anything below:
(note you will be met with a virtual bxhslap)
I hope it all works out well….still think it’s way too young to start school. Should bump it all up 2 years so students leave high school at 18. We are rushing these kids and driving stress levels. Our poor Reception children are dragging by 1:00 p.m. The elongated school day does nothing but create more well needed breaks for students to “play”.
From a teachers perspective.
Gotta agree with this. Graduate HS without ability to drive to job, school, etc. immature and not ready to make major decisions. Which might be why many drop out of UCCI or overseas tertiary education. Give them time/maturity to make important decisions that affect self esteem, finances, the rest of their lives….