The Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Council is in charge of putting early childhood education, nutrition, and health programs into action for young children in the Philippines. The ECCD Council creates policies, sets national standards, and offers technical support. With funding from the Department of Education, Department of Social Welfare and Development, ECCD Council Secretariat, Department of Health, National Nutrition Council, ULAP, and private ECCD practitioners, the Council has been working with local government units since 2014 to establish National Child Development Centers.
Also Read: DepEd Order 40 Series of 2012: Child Protection Policy Philippines
Programs and Services
The following are the programs and services offered by ECCD:
National Child Development Center (NCDC)
The NCDC is the ECCD Council’s main community-based program. It acts as the cornerstone for the administration of ECCD services and programs, particularly the Family Support Program and Early Learning Programs.
The Center’s goal is to improve community involvement in early childhood education and care.
Early Learning Programs
Children ages 0 to 4 are intended to get early stimulation and learning opportunities through child-centered, play-based Early Learning Programs. Its inclusive approach includes children from Indigenous People’s Groups as well as those with developmental delays and disabilities.
Center-Based
- Infant-Toddler Early Development (ITED) Program – ITED program is for children ages 0 to 2. As the people who know children the best and are in charge of their growth and development, parents and other caregivers apply learning experiences that give infants and toddlers a safe foundation for exploration, learning, and discovery through the work of Child Development Teachers (CDTs) and Child Development Workers (CDWs).
- Pre-Kindergarten 1 (Pre-K1) – Pre-K1 is for children ages 3.00 to 3.11. Children participate in routines that are planned out in advance and are intended to target the various areas of development through play, exploration, and learning opportunities. Using the National Early Learning Curriculum (NELC) as a guide, CDTs and CDWs organize, carry out, and assess daily activities based on the interests and developmental needs of the children. ensures that the Program is developmentally appropriate for children enrolled.
- Pre-Kindergarten 2 (Pre-K2) – Pre-K2 is for children ages 4.00 to 4.11. The Program aims to support the development of critical skills and competencies that ensure children have a smooth transition to kindergarten by implementing developmentally appropriate learning activities based on curricular themes that are aligned with the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Kindergarten subjects. The structured sessions include play-based activities that promote children’s independence and are tailored to the unique developmental characteristics and areas of interest of each child.
Also Read: Brigada Eskwela Program: How to Participate in Your School
Alternative Delivery Modes
- Home-based ECCD Program – The Home-based ECCD Program is an educational endeavor that aims to uphold parents and other caregivers as their children’s primary educators and carers. The program serves kids and families who have trouble getting to center-based programs because they live in places where there aren’t any centers nearby; where public transportation is limited or unsafe for kids; where there is armed conflict; where there are emergencies or natural disasters; and where there are a lot of enrolled children in highly crowded centers.
- Center-based Program in Alternative Venues (CBPAV) – Aiming to maintain the continuous delivery of early learning programs for young children enrolled in center-based programs, the Center-Based Program in Alternative Venue (CBPAV) is an emergency response technique. CBPAV is led by a flexible curriculum that is in line with the NELC and is made to adapt to different emergency scenarios. The curriculum promotes and emphasizes a holistic approach to learning and development by taking into consideration the children’s family environment and the resources that are accessible. Homes and temporary learning spaces in the community are among the Program’s alternate locations, which guarantee that kids’ learning and development continue even in the face of difficult situations.
National Early Learning Curriculum (NELC)
CDTs and CDWs, who deliver ECCD services, have distinct tasks and responsibilities at Child Development Centers (CDCs), and the NELC was created to help them with it. The program equips educators with the necessary knowledge and skills to devise and organize suitable educational opportunities in a purposefully planned setting, all of which support children’s overall growth.
Human Resource Development (HRD) Programs
To ensure ECCD service providers can meet quality criteria for different ECCD programs, the Human Resource Development (HRD) Programs are committed to the methodical updating and upgrading of their capabilities.
- Induction Program – One kind of orientation for Local Government Units (LGUs) is the Induction Program. The Program seeks to establish and strengthen the implementation of ECCD programs and services, as well as revive local ECCD Committees, to meet children ages 0 to 4 fundamental needs and promote their optimal growth and development. It does this by involving stakeholders in the local government.
- Integration Program for New Child Development Teachers (CDTs) – The Integration Program is the main pre-service training program for recently hired CDTs. With the help of this program, CDTs will be able to provide ECCD services with the necessary expertise, resources, and knowledge. After the training, CDTs are ready to start on-the-job training for the NCDC’s operationalization.
- Early Childhood Education Program (ECEP) – Through collaborations with State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and Tertiary Education Institutions (TEIs), the Early Childhood Education Program (ECEP) provides tailored academic training in Early Childhood Education (ECE) through scholarships. By designating Local Government Units, the ECCD Council makes this program available to child development workers and teachers. The program’s goal is to guarantee that ECCD Service Providers can conduct ECCD programs that adhere to national requirements by providing them with a strong foundation in ECE.
- Leading and Managing an Integrated ECCD Program (LMIEP) – Local Social Welfare and Development Officers and Local ECCD Focal Persons are equipped to provide high-quality integrated ECCD services through the three phases of the Leading and Managing an Integrated ECCD Program (LMIEP). The program offers talks and courses in management (or related disciplines) in collaboration with TEIs or SUCs. With regard to local policies and administrative practices, the program’s goal is to evaluate current ECCD programs and services and identify areas that could use improvement.
Also Read: DepEd Accredited HomeSchool Providers in the Philippines
Training of Trainers
- Training of Trainers on ECCD in Emergencies (ECCDiE) – To make it easier for ECCD service providers to incorporate ECCD interventions in emergency response—specifically, the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan—the Training of Trainers on ECCD in Emergencies (ECCDiE) program was created. The Comprehensive Emergency Program for Children (CEPC) and children’s rights are among the topics covered in the program. Workshops on LGU capability and situation assessment are also offered. Participants develop an Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) in Emergencies plan that takes into consideration the requirements of young children (0–4), expectant moms, and nursing mothers, with involvement from several local sectors.
Training of Trainers on the System for Prevention, Early Identification, Referral, and Intervention of Delays, Disorders, and Disabilities in Early Childhood (PEIRIDDDEC)
Through the creation and maintenance of the system, the PEIRIDDDEC encourages the participation of Filipino children ages 0 to 4 in early childhood. ECCD stakeholders and service providers in the LGU have been trained by core training teams, which are formed following the program and take the lead in creating a functional system for PEIRIDDDEC.
Capacity Building
- Home-Based ECCD Program – The goal of the Home-based ECCD Program Capacity Building is to educate Program Supervisors and Facilitators on how to set up the program using the Home-based ECCD Program Guidebook. Supervisors, facilitators, and parents are introduced to their roles and responsibilities in the program’s implementation within the framework of the Four Phases of the Home-based ECCD Model through the Guidebook that is supplied.
Advocacy
Center-Based Advocacy
- Kamp Bulilit – The yearly one-day camp known as Kamp Bulilit is generally held in January. Kamp Bulilit’s ultimate goal is to enhance community and family understanding of ECCD services and activities. This ensures that youngsters get the best start to their educational path by promoting early registration in Child Development Centers. Families and communities have a great opportunity to unite at this one-day camp to support the overall development of their children.
- Bayanihang Bulilit – An annual community gathering that embodies the essence of BAYANIHAN, Bayanihang Bulilit takes place shortly before classes start. This program brings the community together to participate in the revitalization of their Child Development Centers. During this event, participants ECCD services, such as initial weight and height assessments, essential vitamin supplements, health education programs, and coordination of book and toy drives for various local centers.
Social Media Advocacy
- Kwentuhang Bulilit – A helpful resource for understanding ECCD in the Philippine context is the online program Kwentuhang Bulilit. “Kwentuhang Bulilit,” which delves into the fields of early learning, health and nutrition, and social services, serves a wide range of individuals, including parents of young children (ages 0-4), committed preschool instructors, local government representatives, and even prominent members of the national leadership. It fills in knowledge gaps and helps all parties involved have fruitful discussions about ECCD.
- Radyo Bulilit – In collaboration with Radyo Pilipinas, Radyo Bulilit is a weekly 30-minute radio show. It raises awareness of the significance of ECCD on a national level, provides a forum for national leaders, local governments, and the general public to gain a deeper understanding of the ECCD, including the services and programs provided by the ECCD Council, and acts as a channel for the dissemination of pertinent news and happenings about the ECCD. Along with 13 provincial radio stations, three regional PBS stations in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao are airing Radyo Bulilit countrywide over Radyo Pilipinas.
- Early Years Fair – An important advocacy event, the Early Years Fair is organized once a year to promote increased interest and understanding of ECCD services on a national and local level. With a unifying goal of promoting early childhood care and development in the Philippines, the Early Years Fair serves as a dynamic forum for bringing together a range of views and opinions.
Video: Pre-Kindergarten 1 Program
Pre-Kindergarten 1 is one of the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Council’s numerous programs and services. The age range for Pre-Kindergarten 1 is 3 years to 3 years and 11 months. A smooth transition to the Kindergarten level is ensured by its alignment with the Department of Education’s Kindergarten themes. To find out more about how the Pre-Kindergarten 1 program operates, watch the video below.
Contact Information
Website: https://eccdcouncil.gov.ph/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ECCDCouncil/
Contact Number: (02) 8571 6833; (02) 8571 6590; (02) 8571 8041; (02) 8571 4615
Email Address: helpdesk@eccdcouncil.gov.ph; comms@eccdcouncil.gov.ph