The provincial government is introducing a new program that will provide non-certified staff in licensed early childhood centres with their tuition and the opportunity to complete their Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education in one year rather than two, says Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Gerard Greenan.
“The new accelerated program will benefit employees, families and early childhood centres,” said Minister Greenan. “Employees will have an affordable opportunity to increase their knowledge and receive their credentials. Families will benefit from having more trained early childhood educators working with their children. Owners and operators of early childhood centres will have more access to trained educators when the kindergarten program moves to the school system next year.”
The program will be offered at Holland College in Charlottetown and Summerside, and at Collège Acadie in Wellington. It will run from October 2009 to September 2010.
To be eligible for the Holland College program, participants must meet the Holland College entrance requirements and they must have worked in a licensed early childhood centre for at least 4,500 hours. To be eligible for the program offered by College Acadie, they must meet the entrance requirements and have worked in a licensed early childhood centre for at least 3,000 hours. All participants must also be eligible for SkillsPEI funding.
Minister Greenan said the new program will help to address the growing shortage of early childhood educators that is occurring in Prince Edward Island and across the country. “We recognize the great contribution that early childhood educators make to our society and our economy. As a province, we are working with the early childhood sector on several fronts to recruit and retain this essential human resource,” he said.
The new program is a partnership of the Government of Prince Edward Island, the Government of Canada, the Early Childhood Development Association of PEI, Holland College and Collège Acadie with funding of $470,000 through the Labour Market Development Agreement.
Minister Greenan acknowledged the excellent work being done by the Early Childhood Development Association to promote the program to its members. “With the help of the Early Childhood Development Association, over 80 people attended recent information sessions across the Island. We are hoping the new accelerated program will be an incentive for at least 50 individuals to receive their certification in early childhood education. Registrations will be accepted until late September and I encourage people to participate in this valuable learning opportunity,” said Minister Greenan.
For more information on the Early Childhood Care and Education Accelerated Training Program, contact the Early Childhood Development Association of PEI at 902 368 1866.