'Celebrate the young children in our lives'

MONDAY, JUNE 6: I am pleased to be here with you today to join you in recognising the "Week of the Young Child".

I'm a firm believer that children deserve to be celebrated 365 days of the year, so I'm pleased that we are setting aside some time this week to shine the spotlight on our youngest ones.

The Bermuda Association for the Education of Young Children is to be praised for spearheading this initiative and hosting a week of child focused activities aimed at empowering children and those who care for them.

Your theme, “Investing in Young Children, Benefits All”, is truly fitting because today’s child is the next generation’s leader and they will put forth what we have invested in them.  Our job - then - is to ensure we invest good things.

If our community is to have good, strong leaders in the future, we must build and develop good, strong children who will grow into good, strong and successful adults.

Ladies and gentlemen, Government is committed to providing quality early childhood experiences.  We are examining the feasibility of lowering the age for testing by the Child Development Programme, so that we can diagnose any issues that may exist even earlier.

You will also be aware that the Ministry has simplified and focused our mission statement to more clearly state our goal. 

Simply put, our priority and everything we do revolves around students. Everything that we do is geared to, and with the sole purpose of, positively impacting our students.

As the sole reason for our existence, students occupy the primary position in our thinking, our plans and our programmes, even as we work to revive pride in the public school system.

While we will continue to face challenges with student development, it is important to note that the majority of our young people successfully matriculate in the public education system.

From sports to the arts, from academics to community service – public school students are excelling.  Their achievements don’t happen by accident.  They are the result of good principals, good teachers, good students and good mentors; and it is this kind of high achievement that we will continue to nurture and support.

I think that it is important for all of us to embrace the “Week of the Young Child” as a chance to celebrate the young children in our lives, to focus public attention on their needs, and to acknowledge the importance of the people and programmes that care for and educate them.

To the members of the Bermuda Association for the Education of Young Children, to the organizers, participants and educators who worked to make this week possible, I salute you for your hard work and dedication.

Be assured that your efforts on behalf of our children do not go unnoticed.

I wish you all a very successful and productive week.

Thank you.