UWI and MOE Partner to Pave the Way for Bilingual Learning in Early Childhood Education

The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Division of the Ministry of Education (MoE), in collaboration with The University of the West Indies (The UWI) St. Augustine Campus, Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics, and the Centre for Language Learning, has developed the ‘Implementing Spanish in the ECCE Curriculum’ workshop. This initiative aims to equip ECCE teachers with the tools and knowledge to integrate Spanish into daily classroom routines naturally and engagingly.

Held at the Maloney Government ECCE Centre from December 16–20, 2024, the workshop introduced participants to the Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) approach, Translanguaging Pedagogy, and strategies for creating a language-rich environment and assessment. Seventy-three ECCE teachers participated, working in small groups with bilingual facilitators for personalised guidance.

The workshop was designed as a community-based research project, aligning with The UWI’s Community Engagement Framework. This approach integrates knowledge and action to create lasting educational and social change, applying discipline-specific expertise to meet identified community needs.

A key outcome of the workshop is the ECCE Bilingual eBook, a resource that provides teachers with Spanish phrases, common classroom instructions, and activities alongside English translations. Some volumes include audio recordings to aid pronunciation. The eBook facilitates Spanish integration into daily schedules, fostering a multilingual and inclusive classroom environment.

Speaking on the initiative, Romulo Guedez Fernandez, Instructor in the Spanish Undergraduate Programme and TESOL Lecturer at The UWI, St. Augustine, stated:

“This workshop marks a crucial step in fostering bilingual education by supporting the integration of Spanish into the ECCE curriculum. The campus is proud to collaborate with the Ministry of Education in this initiative, aligning with the government’s mandate to foster inclusion. By integrating Spanish into the ECCE curriculum, we are enhancing bilingualism and cultural awareness, ensuring all children can thrive in a diverse world.”

The integration of Spanish into the ECCE curriculum promotes an inclusive, enriching educational environment. Teachers were encouraged to maintain bilingual portfolios to track children’s progress in both languages, contributing to cognitive, academic, and social development.

Coordinators for the workshop included Carol Bhagwandin (Director, MoE, ECCE Division), Romulo Guedez Fernandez (UWI, Spanish Undergraduate Programme Instructor & TESOL Lecturer), Dr. Elizabeth King-Oliver (MoE, Curriculum Programme Coordinator, ECCE), and Solange Commissiong (MoE, District ECCE Curriculum Programme Facilitator). They were supported by volunteer facilitators Natalie Bhawanie (UWI, ESL Tutor, Centre for Language Learning), Ruth Albornoz (UTT, Instructor, Centre for Education Programmes), Joelle George (Cunupia Secondary School, Teacher), Patricia Prescott (St Mary’s Mucurapo Boys’ RC Primary, Teacher), Jéda Douglas (UWI, BA Linguistics, Final-Year Student), and Roger Mc Farlane (UWI, Technical Assistant).

The Ministry of Education, in collaboration with The UWI’s Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics and the Centre for Language Learning, will host additional workshops in South Trinidad from April 14–17, 2025, and in Port of Spain and surrounding areas in July 2025.

For more information, visit the Ministry of Education’s website or contact The UWI St. Augustine Campus.