On the island, which is the capital of country, there are nine privately operated child day care centres and two government-funded early childhood care and education. Tarome’s learning centre provides childcare for children aged 1-5 years.
Island Bubz Children Care Centre is situated in rural Rarotonga and surrounded by the mountains and taro plantations. Children can go on little excursions to the lagoon situated close by under the watchful eyes of the ‘Aunties'. They play with coconuts, sea, sand, sticks, immersing with their environmental surroundings.
They play with coconuts, sea, sand, sticks, immersing with their environmental surroundings.
Mother Nature goes hand in hand with how children should be raised. How we nurture and care for our tamariki (children), we must do the same for our ipukarea (environment).
According to the Cook Islands Ministry of Education, the early childhood education curriculum recognizes the need to look at each child ‘holistically’, that is, to cater for the child’s social, emotional, cognitive, physical and spiritual needs.
Fostering Cook Islands language and culture, children learn through play to discover and explore their identity, involvement, enquiry, communication and contribution.
We are passionate about creating learning opportunities for our youth and support working families. Our Aunties provide a safe and nurturing environment where all children are valued as strong and capable learners.
This story is part of a photo exhibition that will be showcased at the World Conference on Early Childhood Care and Education from 14 to 16 November 2022 Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
The Conference will reaffirm the right of every young child to quality care and education from birth. It will urge Member States to expand their commitment and investment in ensuring that access of all girls and boys to quality early childhood development, care and pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary education.
- More on UNESCO’s work in early childhood care and education
