Education Minister Dame Jennifer Smith stressed the importance of focusing on children’s development as she recognised the Week of the Young Child yesterday.In a ceremony on the steps of the City Hall, Dame Jennifer introduced the theme for the week: “Investing in young children benefits all.”The initiative is being spearheaded by the Bermuda Association for the Education of Young Children, which is hosting a week of activities aimed at empowering children and those who care for them.Dame Jennifer said: “Today’s child is the next generation’s leader and they will put forth what we have invested in them. Our job, then, is to ensure we invest good things.“If our community is to have good, strong leaders in the future, we must build and develop good, strong children who will grow into good, strong and successful adults.”She said Government is showing its commitment to children by looking into lowering the age for testing by the child development programme, so that issues can be diagnosed at an earlier age.The Ministry has redefined its goal, she said, to make it clear everything revolves around students.“Everything that we do is geared to, and with the sole purpose of, positively impacting our students,” said Dame Jennifer.“As the sole reason for our existence, students occupy the primary position in our thinking, our plans and our programmes, even as we work to revive pride in the public school system.“While we will continue to face challenges with student development, it is important to note that the majority of our young people successfully matriculate in the public education system.“From sports to the arts, from academics to community service, public school students are excelling. Their achievements don’t happen by accident. They are the result of good principals, good teachers, good students and good mentors; and it is this kind of high achievement that we will continue to nurture and support.”