Families and providers still in the dark about pre-primary program

Questions remain about who has been consulted

Halifax—As families and child care providers await an announcement today from the Liberal government on its plan to introduce a pre-primary program this fall, questions remain about who has been consulted on this program.

“We are seven weeks away from the beginning of September. Most families need to have a plan for their children in place months in advance,” said Nikki Jamieson, whose child will be eligible for the pre-primary program next year. “There are so many questions. Why isn’t the government talking to parents?”

The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development has yet to disclose whether four-year-olds will be able to ride the bus to these programs, how enrollment will be determined, who will be eligible to enroll at the anticipated 30 sites, what curriculum will be used, if classrooms will be appropriately outfitted for four-year-old children in time for September, and what the impact will be on existing child care centres.

“This is another example of this government making decisions without consultation with those working on the front lines,” said NDP Education and Early Childhood Development spokesperson Claudia Chender. “Child care providers know the opening of pre-primary sites could have a negative impact on their operations and want to know how the government plans to deal with that impact.”

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