Early Childhood Education Centres

The Caribbean Development Bank Basic Needs Trust Fund 7 – Early Childhood Education Centres project consists of the design of one new education centre at Dennery, and the rehabilitation and upgrade of six existing day care centres around the island including at Babonneau, Marigot and Mirja Sachs. The centres are part of the advancing of the education sector and are critical to the intellectual development of infants, toddlers and pre-scholars by providing a central literacy-rich environment conducive to effective learning.

The location of the Dennery compound was determined primarily by the Ministry of Education, who had the overall vision to develop the surrounding area into a school zone consisting also of primary and secondary schools. The centre was designed to provide accommodation for a maximum capacity of eighty students with all the requisite classroom space, toilet facilities, administration offices, infirmary, and secure external playground. The facility also included wheelchair access and provided for potable water storage and rainwater harvesting. In addition, the new early childhood centre would serve as a shelter during disaster and emergency situations primarily characterised by hurricanes and storms.

On the other hand, the locations of the existing centres identified for upgrading were maintained. Dannion conducted extensive assessments on these centres in order to determine the required rehabilitation and upgrading to meet the standards set by the Caricom Regional Guidelines in Early Childhood Development Services. On completion of the works, the centres were up to similar standard of the newly constructed centre at Dennery.

Dannion developed detailed designs, cost estimates, tender documents and conducted full construction supervision.