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Permanent Secretary in the Education, Skills, Youth and Information Ministry, Dr. Kasan Troupe, has underscored the importance of early childhood educators in molding young lives and contributing to nation-building.

She said the experiences children encounter during their formative years help to shape their development and prepare them for the future.

She noted that the playroom is where children first learn important social skills, including sharing, taking turns and resolving conflicts, while also developing empathy, fairness and critical thinking.

“The child who learns to negotiate a block today…will be the adults who negotiate the contracts tomorrow, will be the adults who negotiate the peace treaties tomorrow, will be the adults who negotiate the national policies of this country,” she stated.

Dr. Troupe was addressing the Early Childhood Commission’s (ECC) Excellent Teacher Awards Ceremony on Friday (Oct. 30) at the National Arena in Kingston, recognising excellence in innovation in early childhood education and development.

The event culminated the two-day ‘Early Childhood Exhibition & Celebrating Teachers Expo 2026,’ organised by the ECC and the Jamaica Teaching Council (JTC), which showcased innovations in early childhood education and featured stakeholder engagements.

It was held under the theme: ‘From the Playroom to the Nation: This is Where Good Citizenship Begins! A Solid Foundation for a Sustainable Nation.’

Dr. Troupe said the expo provided a platform for educators to share their expertise, showcase their work and engage in discussions on teaching and learning.

“When I walked through the National Arena yesterday and today, I saw something that made my heart swell with pride,” she said.

“Teachers were engaged in deep conversation about pedagogy. Early childhood practitioners were demonstrating the science of play. We saw TVET [Technical and Vocational Education and Training] instructors showcasing the future skills and exhibitors connecting the dots between playroom and the nation,” she pointed out.

Dr. Troupe said the two-day event demonstrate the connection between early childhood education and TVET, noting that both stages of learning require skilled educators to guide students.

“The playroom and the workshop are not opposites. They are the same room at different stages of life,” she noted.

Dr. Troupe congratulated the educators and encouraged them to recognise the value of their work in changing lives.

Drawing on her own experience, she said it was a teacher, who inspired her to pursue opportunities beyond the difficult circumstances in which she grew up.

“I stand here this afternoon not as the ideal student but as a student who came up through humble circumstances. But it is the teacher who made a difference in my life,” she shared.

“That’s the power you have as a teacher. You speak dreams into reality. You speak a promise and a future over children,” she said.

Principal of Fairfield Kindergarten School, Region Four, Latoya Hamilton, who delivered the response on behalf of the ECC Excellent Teacher Award recipients, noted that teaching and learning have evolved since the COVID-19 pandemic, with information and communication technology (ICT) playing a greater role in facilitating education.

She noted that the integration of technology has helped educators to maintain connections with students and parents and to enhance teaching approaches.

She said that educators will continue to utilise digital tools strategically to improve learning outcomes.

Ms. Hamilton affirmed the commitment of the award recipients to continue to positively shape the future of students.

“As early childhood educators, we are aware of our impact. As the theme correctly dictates… this is where good citizenship begins,” she said.