Early learning readiness assessment shows promising results for children in Seychelles |28 February 2024
A recent study conducted by the Seychelles Institute of Early Childhood Development (IECD) revealed positive findings regarding the readiness of children aged 3 to 4 years old for early learning in crèche or preschool.
The assessment, which targeted children in both registered and unregistered home- and centre-based care facilities, included 1214 participants, with an equal distribution of girls and boys.
The study indicated that children showed improvements in pre-language, pre-numeracy, and social-emotional domains, with girls outperforming boys in all three areas.
Children in registered home-based care providers demonstrated slightly better performance compared to those in centre-based and unregistered services.
Notably, the percentage of children deemed to have reached the readiness level increased to almost 89 percent, showcasing a desirable trend.
While the results showed steady improvement over the past three years, concerns were raised regarding the widening performance gap between genders and the lower performance of children in unregistered care services.
Parental engagement was highlighted as a key factor in children's learning and development, with a significant increase in parental involvement observed in 2023.
IECD emphasised the importance of addressing these issues, including the need for tailored learning programmes based on children's diverse backgrounds and experiences. Strategies to enhance boys' performance and support children in unregistered care facilities are being explored to ensure all children have equal access to quality early learning opportunities.
Moving forward, IECD plans to develop a concept paper to assess the predictive power of the early learning readiness assessment for Key Stage 1 Assessments.
The organisation remains committed to promoting a stimulating environment for children's cognitive development and fostering their social-emotional skills, with a focus on inclusive and effective early learning programmes.
More information on the Assessment Early Learning Readiness project and its results, and future initiatives, can be obtained from the Seychelles IECD.