Education
April 9, 2014
Investing in Priority Early Learning Programs
All Party Support for Introduction of Full-Day Kindergarten
A private member’s motion to support the Provincial Government’s decision to introduce full-day Kindergarten received unanimous support today from all members in the legislature.
"The implementation of a universal full-day Kindergarten program
– equally accessible to all children in Newfoundland and Labrador – is a
major component of the second phase of our six-year early learning strategy,
Learning from the Start, which was initiated in 2011 to invest in programs
and services which give our children the best possible start in life. Budget
2014 allocates $35.4 million over three years to implement full-day
Kindergarten, beginning in September 2016, and to further enhance early
learning opportunities. This builds on our government's commitment to
investing in early learning programs and services that promote the social,
emotional and academic development of children."
- The Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Education
In addition to funding for full-day Kindergarten, at a cost of $30.6 million over three years, Budget 2014: Shared Prosperity, Fair Society, Balanced Outlook includes $4.8 million for the continuation of early learning initiatives aimed specifically at infants and toddlers.
QUICK FACTS
- A private member’s motion to support the decision to introduce full-day Kindergarten received unanimous support today from all members of the legislature.
- Budget 2014: Shared Prosperity, Fair Society, Balanced Outlook allocates $35.4 million for Phase II of the province's Early Learning Strategy, Learning from the Start, which includes provision for full-day Kindergarten and existing early learning programming aimed at infants and toddlers.
- Phase I of Learning from the Start, announced in 2011, focused on programs and services for children from birth to age three.
- For more information on Learning from the Start and Early Childhood Learning initiatives, visit: www.ed.gov.nl.ca/edu/earlychildhood/strategy.html.
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Media contact:
Heather May
Director of Communications
Department of Education
709-729-0048, 697-5061
heathermay@gov.nl.ca
2014 04 09 5:45 p.m.