The Association of Early Childhood Educators (ECD) has benefited from a sponsorship package from the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education.

The package will support thirty Early Childhood Development (ECD) facilitators from various regions in The Gambia to undertake a three-year Early Childhood Development course at The Gambia College.The association last Thursday held a session for the selected facilitators to brief them on the course at the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) Chambers, in Kanifing.Speaking at the briefing session, Yusupha Sanyang, deputy mayor of KMC, thanked the association for coming up with such initiative, noting that as an association they have their own objectives and that is to ensure that they prepare their members at all time.

He urged the facilitators to be committed and to contribute their quota in the socio-economic development of the country.For his part, Babou Gaye Sonko, president of the Association of Early Childhood Educators, gave a brief history of the association. According to him, the association was formed in 1992 by a group of proprietors, who felt  the need to promote the early child  hood education sector and to come together under one umbrella. He disclosed and they have over 250 nursery schools in the association.

According to him, where there is no quality teaching there would be no quality education.He further disclosed that the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education has agreed to sponsor 30 facilitators from various regions in the country.Sonko pointed out that the facilitators are here to represent the whole country and that they are expected to be very good ambassadors of the association as  the association will be judged by their behaviour and attitude.

He urged them to work hard so that at the end of the three-year programme they will all come out with flying colours.He thanked the minister of Basic and Secondary Education, Fatou Lamin Faye, and the permanent secretary, Baboucarr Boye, for their tireless efforts in support of the Association.

Deacon Emmanuel Omorodion, vice president of the association, said that all eyes will be on these 30 facilitators and that they must do their best to make sure that they do not disappoint the association. For her part, Amie Jallow-Coker, social secretary and acting treasurer of the association, urged them to be very serious with their work and also be punctual, adding that attitudinal change should be their priority.Other speakers included Kawsu Sanneh, secretary and Sally Sidibeh-Susso.