Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter

Sixty-three per cent of the 2,700 early-childhood institutions across the island have submitted applications to the Early Childhood Commission (ECC) and are expected to be registered once the necessary checks have been made, according to Sue Ann Wallace, public education coordinator at the commission.

Basic schools, day-care centres, infant schools, as well as kindergartens and pre-schools, were given until February 29 to submit applications to the commission.

This is in keeping with the Early Childhood Act and Regulations.

Wallace said other institutions have submitted applications but further documentation is needed to complete the registration process. However, she was unable to say how many had outstanding documentation.

Inspection, observation

The public education coordinator said inspection and observation of institutions that have applied would be carried out.

Wallace said a temporary permit would be issued in the event that inspectors found discrepancies that needed correction. She said those institutions that failed to submit applications to the ECC would be operating in breach of the act and could be prosecuted.

"They would be operating in breach and to the extent that we know who they are, we will serve them with a letter to indicate to them that they are in breach, and if they continue to operate, then the law sets out the results of that kind of activity," Wallace told The Gleaner last week Tuesday.

The law stipulates that a person can be fined or imprisoned for breaching the Early Childhood Act.

The Education Ministry has requested $200 million in its 2008-2009 budget to assist early-childhood institutions improve their infrastructure.

The Early Childhood Act sets 12 basic standards for institutions. These include qualified staff, a proper physical environment, safe indoor and outdoor environments, and sound financial practices.

petrina.francis@gleanerjm.com