News Releases

UWI Expands Early Childhood Development Through Launch of UWI Pre-School

For Release Upon Receipt - October 2, 2026

St. Augustine


ST. AUGUSTINE, Trinidad and Tobago - October 2, 2026 - The University of the West Indies (The UWI), St. Augustine Campus, is expanding its investment in early childhood development with the official launch of its Pre-School programme, open to UWI employees and the wider public. The UWI Pre-School, launched on September 7, 2026 at The UWI Child Learning and Discovery Facility, provides young children with structured opportunities to learn, explore and develop through a specialised programme designed to support their holistic development during their formative years.

A distinctive feature of the Pre-School is its Blue-Green curriculum approach, which connects children's learning to terrestrial and aquatic environments. Through hands-on activities, children are introduced to conservation, recycling, composting, water conservation and environmental stewardship, encouraging an understanding of their relationship with the natural world from an early age.

The initiative was championed by Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine as part of a broader commitment to employee well-being and support for families, while opening the Pre-School to the public extends the benefits of the University's early childhood expertise beyond the Campus community.

“The launch is a meaningful expression of our commitment to the well-being of young learners as we have the opportunity to give the children entrusted to our care a strong foundation for learning, discovery and growth,” Professor Antoine said.

The new Pre-School provides a specialised two-year programme for children between three and five years old, with a focus on the holistic development of the child. Its curriculum is designed to nurture curious, resilient, compassionate and socially conscious young learners, while developing their communication, creativity and critical thinking skills and positive relationships.

The programme combines an Integrated Thematic Curriculum with the Project Approach, incorporating literacy, numeracy, science, social studies, the arts, citizenship, health and wellness. Five curriculum strands: Effective Communication, Aesthetic Expression, Learning to Learn, Citizenship, and Health and Wellness; support children's cognitive, physical, social, emotional and linguistic development.

Additionally, children explore themes including Me, Myself and I; My Country; Celebrations; We Grow What We Eat and Eat What We Grow; My Environment; Reduce! Reuse! Recycle! Water! Water! Water! and Animals. Learning is further enriched through exposure to French and Spanish, storytelling, music and movement, visual and performing arts, sensory exploration and outdoor activities.

The Pre-School also builds on The UWI’s long-standing commitment to early childhood care and education, including the work of the The UWI Family Development and Children’s Research Centre (UWI-FDCRC) project. Although the project has since concluded, it made significant contributions to the advancement of early childhood care and education (ECCE) practices and policies both locally and across the region.

 

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Notes to the Editor

CAPTIONS

Photo 1:

Putting Down Roots: UWI St Augustine Campus Principal, Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine, is joined by children as she plants a tree at the launch of The UWI Child Learning and Discovery Facility.

Photo 2:

A Curious Mind: A young learner explores a book with an adult at The UWI Child Learning and Discovery Facility, where the blue-green curriculum is being offered by The UWI Pre-School.

Photo 3:

First day of School: A parent shares a moment with his child at The UWI Child Learning and Discovery Facility, where The UWI Pre-School is held at the St. Augustine Campus.

 

About The University of the West Indies

The University of the West Indies (The UWI) has played a crucial role in Caribbean development for over 75 years, consistently contributing to the improvement of the well-being of people across the region. Established in 1948 as a university college of London in Jamaica, with just 33 medical students, UWI has grown into an internationally respected, global university with nearly 50,000 students. Today, it boasts five campuses: Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill in Barbados, Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda, and its Global Campus, along with international centres in partnership with universities across North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe.

The UWI offers over 1000 certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Culture, Creative and Performing Arts, Food and Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities and Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology, Social Sciences, and Sport. As the leading university in the Caribbean, it is home to the largest pool of intellect and expertise in the region, dedicated to addressing the critical issues facing both the Caribbean and the wider world.

Validated by its inclusion in the Times Higher Education (THE) annual rankings since 2018, The UWI has affirmed its position as one of the top universities globally. It stands out as the only English-speaking institution in the Caribbean featured in four of THE's prestigious ranking lists. The World University Rankings evaluate over 2,000 research-focused universities worldwide, while the Golden Age University Rankings highlight institutions established between 50 and 80 years ago. The Latin America Rankings focus specifically on universities within Latin America and the Caribbean. Additionally, the Impact Rankings assess universities based on their contributions to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This recognition has also spring boarded the establishment of The UWI’s International School for Development Justice (ISDJ), a global online graduate business school aimed at preparing future leaders for sustainable development.

The UWI is an SDG-engaged university consistently recognised among the best in the world. Discover more at www.uwi.edu.

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