Nursery Education Marks 50 Years of Growing Young Minds
Written by EDYOU FM Staff on September 23, 2026
As Guyana observes Education Month 2026 under the theme “From Classrooms to Communities, Education Transforms Lives,” the Ministry of Education is shining a spotlight on Nursery Education, which is celebrating its Golden Jubilee this year.
Before 1976, early childhood education was largely provided informally by private organisations and churches, mainly for families who could afford it. The government’s involvement in education that year brought major changes, including the expansion of nursery education and greater access for young children.
Today, every child who turns three years old on or before June 30 of the admission year is eligible for a place at a public nursery school. Although nursery education is not compulsory, the Government provides free access, giving children an opportunity to begin developing important skills from an early age.
As part of the 50th anniversary celebrations, Assistant Chief Executive Officer-Nursery, Devendre Persaud, encouraged nursery schools across the country to host “then and now” exhibitions featuring toys, games and teaching aids used over the years. A tree-planting exercise and a symposium focused on nursery education are also among the activities planned.
Nursery education goes beyond preparing children academically. It supports their physical, social, mental and emotional development while building early literacy, numeracy and sensory-motor skills. Persaud described this approach as the “whole child concept,” where children are developed in all areas.
Play is also an important part of nursery learning. Director of the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD), Oma Ramdin, has stressed that play should not be viewed as unproductive. Whether children are using toys, water, mud or sand, play encourages creativity, teamwork, confidence and sensory development.
Fifty years on, Nursery Education continues to provide children with a strong foundation for primary school while supporting their development during some of their most important early years.
