THE employment contracts of 86 Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) teachers and teacher assistants have been renewed.

The renewed contracts effective for a period of three years include 13 teachers and 73 teacher assistants whose existing contractual periods have expired, the Ministry of Education stated via media release on Wednesday.

Minister of Education Dr Michael Dowlath said, “This contract renewal reflects our firm dedication to strengthening early childhood education in Trinidad and Tobago.”

Currently, there are 143 operational Government and Government-Assisted ECCE Centres nationwide, with 5,324 enrolled students.

The ECCE division within the ministry holds primary responsibility for the developmental needs of children aged three to five years old, and maintains oversight of ECCE Centres throughout the country, including those that are government-assisted.

This division also works collaboratively with the Division of Education, Research and Technology (DERTech) in Tobago ensuring the consistent delivery of quality early childhood education, the ministry stated.