AGBANNAWAG, Kalinga – Over 60 barangay officials and daycare workers underwent a capability building seminar on Early Childhood Care and Development Council (ECCDC) assessment tool in Agbannawag on Tuesday, July 30.
The activity aims to provide further knowledge among participants of the different areas they need to consider to be accredited by the Early Childhood Care and Development Council.
The ECCDC is a national government committee in the Philippines in charge of executing the National ECCD System. This system includes a wide range of health, nutrition, early education, and social services aimed at meeting the holistic requirements of children aged birth to four years old and promoting their optimal growth and development.
The seminar covers seven topics: health, nutrition, and safety; physical environment safety; curriculum instruction and assessment; staff qualifications, development, and continuing education; interaction and relationships between staff and children, and between children and other adults; family involvement and community linkages; and leadership, program management, and support.
Dr. Hazel Antoinette Sarol of RHU IV, discussed about health, nutrition and safety within centers and among learners. She gave emphasis on the importance of promoting healthy nutrition and safety practices and the prevention and protection of children from illness and injuries.
Beverly Grail Alvester, daycare worker, spoke about physical environment safety, focusing specifically on creating a classroom environment that is safe and accessible to young children, including those with special needs, by providing adequate and sufficient facilities, equipment, and learning materials.
Meanwhile, ECCD focal Hazel Mullat talked about curriculum instruction and assessment, where she stressed that curriculum must manifest developmentally appropriate practices and based on the individual needs and interests; staff qualifications, staff development, and continuing education, where she encouraged that a child development teacher must be qualified and possess educational qualifications such as a degree in childhood education or elementary education with specialization.
Planning Officer Vincent Galura spoke about the interaction and relationships between staff and children, children and other people, family involvement and community linkages, leadership, program management, and support.
He stated that positive interactions and relationships between children, adults, and stakeholders can have a tremendous impact on the child’s potential and sense of individual value and belonging as a member of the community, as well as their ability to become responsible community members. By Sunshine Soco
