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Message: [QUOTE="Munyaradzi Mafaro, post: 79204, member: 636"] Experts at a recent regional conference said early childhood development in Latin America and the Caribbean needs major upgrades. The panel, organized by the JN Foundation and the University of the West Indies School of Education with the Dudley Grant Early Childhood Resource Centre, identified three big problems. They need more reliable funding, better data collection, and more inclusive support services for kids. World Bank economist Dr. Emre Ozaltin pointed out that money for these programs has to come from multiple sources to survive disasters. He suggested mixing government budgets with private partnerships and special taxes. Professor Zoyah Kinkead-Clark from UWI stressed the need for better program tracking to see what actually works. She mentioned Hurricane Melissa's damage in Jamaica as a reason to create stronger safety nets, or wrap-around services, for families. UNICEF specialist Dr. Rebecca Tortello talked about improving classroom environments. She referenced a model sensory space built with the Rockhouse Foundation at Savanna-la-Mar Infant Academy, a school hit by that same hurricane. She also noted plans for a new child screening center in Portland to add to the one at Mico University College. Dr. Tracy-Ann Morgan-Smith from Jamaica's Early Childhood Commission said legal changes are required. She cited the need for official teacher licensing and mandatory training on topics like child trauma. She also mentioned that new data privacy laws mean regulations must protect kids' information. The overall message was that fixing early education needs tailored solutions, not a single universal plan. The group emphasized building systems that can withstand future crises while closing gaps in learning and healthcare for young children. [/QUOTE]

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