Pre-Primary Sector: Govt shifts focus on learner profile

The Developmental Learner Profile (DLP) for the pre-primary sector was launched on Tuesday at the Lecture Theatre, MITD House, in Phoenix. The DLP has been designed with a view to providing a summary of the child’s progress and development across the two years at pre-primary school. In her address, the Minister of Education, Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun recalled that early childhood is the most rapid period of development in a person’s life and sustainable development rests upon strong foundations and begins in early years. “When we speak of a learner’s profile, we are basing ourselves on the inescapable conviction that the early years of life are crucial not only for our children’s health and physical development, but also for their cognitive and social-emotional development,” the Minister said. According to Minister Dookun-Luchoomun, there exists a compelling body of cross-disciplinary research and practice which highlights the importance of investing in the early childhood years, especially during critical and unique periods of brain development. “There is unanimity about the significance of providing good quality early pre-primary education combined with quality early childhood services. This improves the efficiency of the schooling system and reduces repetition and drop-out and thus increases completion rates and achievement levels,” she added.