January 17, 2022 | VICTORIA, BC [Also see: New JDF Child Care Centre in Colwood]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
People looking to build careers in child care will have more educational opportunities with the addition of 147 early childhood educator (ECE) seats at eight public post-secondary institutions throughout the province.
That announcement was made today by the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training.
“Every parent wants to give their child the best start in life, and early childhood educators play a big role in that by helping kids develop their critical thinking, communication and social skills. Providing more opportunities to train early childhood educators empowers people who are passionate about caring for our children,” said Anne Kang, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Training.
“A strong workforce of early childhood educators will give B.C. families the peace of mind and time needed to pursue work, education and opportunities,” Kang said in a news release.
Vancouver Island seats:
On Vancouver Island there are 44 new seats across three learning institutions:
- Camosun College (Victoria): 24 additional ECE student spaces
- North Island College (Port Alberni): 12 additional ECE student spaces
- Vancouver Island University (Nanaimo): eight additional ECE student spaces
Supporting a 10-year childcare plan:
In 2021-22, the Province is investing $1.32 million to expand ECE seats as part of the 10-year Childcare BC plan, adding to the 1,003 student training spaces funded since 2018.
The new ECE seats include full- and part-time studies and online learning, as well as speciality programs in Indigenous community-based delivery, infant and toddler, and special needs. The programs are delivered in person and online to improve access for students living in remote and rural areas of B.C.
“For too long, rising child care costs and lack of availability have been barriers for parents and caregivers, and particularly for young, working families,” said Katrina Chen, Minister of State for Child Care.
“We’re building a future where child care is a core service that’s available to any family that wants it. Expanding the number of training spaces for early childhood educators supports that future, gives child a strong start and helps families get ahead.”
Minister of State for Child Care Katrina Chen was at West Shore Parks and Recreation’s official opening of the new JDF Child Care Centre in Colwood in December 2021.
At that event Chen spoke at the ChildcareBC plan and said: “In the past few years — especially going through the pandemic and the extreme weather events — people are really starting to pay attention to how child care is an important part of our economic recovery and family well-being.”
All the ECE training seats, so far:
North:
Northern Lights College: 74 additional ECE student spaces
College of New Caledonia: 24 additional ECE student spaces
Thompson-Okanagan:
Nicola Valley Institute of Technology: 54 additional ECE student spaces
Okanagan College: 56 additional ECE student spaces
Kootenays:
College of the Rockies: 100 additional ECE student spaces
Selkirk College: 88 additional ECE student spaces
Vancouver Island:
Camosun College: 107 additional ECE student spaces
North Island College: 108 additional ECE student spaces
Vancouver Island University: 124 additional ECE student spaces
Lower Mainland:
Capilano University: 79 additional ECE student spaces
Langara College: 41 additional ECE student spaces
University of British Columbia: 112 additional student spaces
University of the Fraser Valley: 36 additional student spaces
Starting in January 2022, eight public post-secondary institutions throughout B.C. are adding 147 early childhood education student spaces.
North:
Northern Lights College: 34 additional ECE student spaces.
Thompson-Okanagan:
Okanagan College: 15 additional ECE student spaces.
Thompson Rivers University: 10 additional ECE student spaces.
Kootenays:
College of the Rockies: 30 additional ECE student spaces
Selkirk College: 14 additional ECE student spaces
Vancouver Island:
Camosun College: 24 additional ECE student spaces
North Island College: 12 additional ECE student spaces
Vancouver Island University: eight additional ECE student spaces
Adding to Capilano University classrooms:
In addition to the ECE seat expansion, the Province is providing funding to support Capilano University’s new Centre for Childhood Studies which was announced on January 13, 2022. The centre will have classrooms and study spaces that will benefit ECE students.
In July 2020 CapU (located in North Vancouver) received $2.96 million from the Childcare BC New Spaces Fund. Pending approvals, construction is slated to begin in mid-2022 with the goal of welcoming students and children into The Centre in September 2024.
Childcare BC:
Through Childcare BC, the Province is bringing affordable, quality, inclusive child care to families throughout the province. Since 2018, tens of thousands of families have benefited from better access to more affordable child care.
===== Quick Facts:
* ECEs help shape learning experiences for children from birth to five years – the time when 85% of brain development occurs.
* In addition to this year’s investment, since 2018, government has provided $8.66 million to create an additional 1,003 ECE training spaces at 13 public post-secondary institutions throughout B.C.
* To date, the Province has invested more than $68 million in wage enhancements for ECEs. The $4-an-hour wage enhancement will raise the median wage to about $25 an hour for ECEs throughout B.C.
===== Government Links:
- To learn more about Childcare BC, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/caring-for-young-children/recruitment-retention-strategy
- To learn more about early learning training and professional development, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/childcare/ecestrategy
===== RELATED LINKS:
Apply for an Early Childhood Educator or Assistant Certificate (BC Government)
Early Childhood Educators of BC
JDF Child Care Centre – registration information
West Shore Parks and Recreation
===== RELATED NEWS:
JDF Rec Child Care Centre responds to community demand (January 17, 2022)
Child care scramble for a week highlights inequities (December 30, 2021)
===== ABOUT THE WRITER:
Mary P Brooke is the editor and publisher of Island Social Trends. She has long supported the cause of women’s and family rights in society, as part of furthering a societal understanding of social ecology and fostering a healthier social environment for women and families.
Mary has raised her own family of four children, now grown, while also running her own business.
Ms Brooke holds a B.Sc. in nutrition and community education and a Certificate in Public Relations, as well as a certificate in digital marketing.