Apart from parents, child carers and teachers play a major role in influencing the development of the character of children from infancy to adulthood.

Apart from parents, child carers and teachers play a major role in influencing the development of the character of children from infancy to adulthood.

Especially underestimated is the role of the child carers, who face a more daunting task of initiating toddlers to basics of life so that they can be ready for the next learning process in the public education system.

Hence the importance of the Early Childhood Development Awards, which are run by this newspaper together with the departments of Social Development and Basic Education and the private sector to promote the training of child carers.

These organisations will tonight honour these unsung heroines and their centres to encourage them to keep up the good work of nurturing the young ones for the future.

Recognising that children are a foundation of a society, our newspaper will always align itself with endeavours seeking to create a better future for them.