ANALYSIS/OPINION – July 3, 2012.
The Ministry of Education has operated an Early Childhood Advisory Committee (ECAC), with membership granted solely by invitation from the Ministry’s Chief Executive.
Until recently, ECAC meetings were held in a largely secretive manner—reporters and others from the early childhood sector were excluded, and minutes and reports were not publicly accessible.
Now, the Ministry has promised that starting with its June 2012 ECAC meeting, agendas, minutes, and papers will be made available online via its website.
This shift raises broader questions about the continued relevance of ECAC and the Ministry’s longstanding reliance on a handpicked group of people/organisations to represent the entire early childhood education (ECE) sector.
