Previous Story
Childcare centers get an F
|
Posted on Aug 16 2008
[B]By NAZARIO RODRIGUEZ JR. [/B]
[I]n_rodriguez@saipantribune.net
REPORTER[/I]
REPORTER[/I]
On a scale of 1-10, childcare centers in the CNMI failed to obtain even the minimum grade of 4, according to an initial assessment conducted by the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs.
The islands’ childcare centers got an overall rating of just 3.5 but Childcare Program Director Maribel S.D. Loste was quick to explain that they visited only seven of the 22 registered centers. Of these, 18 are actively participating in the professional development program the DCCA has been conducting, she said.
Thus the initial overall rating does not reflect the true picture, Loste said at the presentation held yesterday at the Multi-Purpose Center.
The grading system was based on two types, the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale and the Infant Toddler Environment Rating Scale.
Loste stressed that this grading system is not meant to compare one center to another but is part of the self-improvement program.
She said this would help them evaluate whether one center needs more technical support or the types of professional development they need to improve their center.
“This is actually an annual review of the registered childcare centers. There is a move to improve the service they must give to the children and that is what we believe—childcare is no longer just babysitting but they must provide quality education,” Loste said.
The program started in 2006 but this is the first time such rating has been given.
A registered center has at least one child who is subsidized by the childcare program.
Loste said that each center must make up for next year’s review and if it continues to fail in succeeding years, then DCCA might not renew their registration in the future.
A total of 54 persons participated, including directors, principals and teachers, in the presentation of the rating of each center yesterday. The rating for each center was not made public.
