An expansion of the dual credit partnership between the Government of Saskatchewan and Saskatchewan Polytechnic is good news for both students and early learning centres.
Three more courses, Interpersonal Communications; Health, Safety, and Nutrition; and Role of Play in the Early Childhood Education, will now be recognized as a credit for both high school graduation and an early childhood education certificate or diploma for grade 11 and 12 students.
"We had done some consultation, and we had people that were trying to get employment in childcare centres, but weren't able to because they didn't have the qualifications, and we also had people that were on the threshold of leaving high school," said Minister of Education, Don Morgan. "Some of the high school teachers and some of our folks said we need to look at something that will keep people in high school, people that would complete a program that they could use for credits for Polytechnic, but get them directly into working. So they could take this program while they're in high school. It gives them the credits for Polytechnic, but it also gives them a certificate when they complete that that would allow them to work as a child care worker in a licensed daycare immediately upon completion."
By successfully completing all three courses, students will be eligible for the Ministry of Education's Early Childhood Educator 1 certification, the entry level that allows them to work full-time at one of the 301 licensed child care centres in the province.
Sheila Paradis is the Executive Director of Natural Wonders Early Learning Centre in Swift Current, and she says finding qualified staff for early learning environments to meet the ever-present demand can be a challenge.
"The demand for early learning spaces remains high, and the government is addressing that piece by providing more spaces, but in order for us to fill those spaces, we need trained and qualified early childhood educators," she said. "That doesn't just mean the ECE's. We also employ speech-language pathologists, Montessori teachers, psychology and medically trained staff, bachelor of education, and any other area of childhood training, and I feel the more the diverse the training, the stronger the team."
"By training at the high school level, both sides benefit," added Paradis. "They'll be working in early learning environments and if they successfully complete a ECE class, the Ministry of Education reimburses them for their tuition and books to a maximum of $500. We benefit by having staff that are learning about quality early learning, but are able to bring what they know and what they have learned in their classes to the workplace, and then the student is able to graduate from post secondary level classes. I see it as a win-win situation, and I also see it as a huge benefit to the community because I think that the stronger the community connections are, that the students, even if they go out of town to complete their post secondary, perhaps they'll come back to their roots and raise their families in these communities."
May is also Early Childhood Education month in Saskatchewan, with May 14th recognizing Early Childhood Educator Appreciation day.
Thu, May 16, 6:30 PM
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