Education and Early Childhood Development
May 30, 2016

The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Dale Kirby, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development:

Provincial Government Proclaims Early Childhood Educators Week

Mr. Speaker, I rise in this Honourable House today to proclaim May 29 - June 4 as Early Childhood Educators Week in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Children are born ready to learn. Their early childhood learning experiences shape their future growth and early childhood educators play an important role in their development.

Early childhood educators, known as ECEs, influence a child's critical early learning years. Each day, ECEs wear many different hats, providing quality care, and supporting the needs of our children through play-based learning.

Our government supports the vital role early childhood educators play in our communities, by assisting with retention, recruitment and training of early childhood educators through the province's 10-year child care strategy.

Newfoundland and Labrador has a strong and effective system of regulated child care, with approximately 2,200 certified early childhood educators working throughout the province. These professionals work in diverse settings including child care centres, family child care homes, family resource centres, educational institutions, businesses and not-for-profit organizations.

Throughout the week, ECEs will have the opportunity to participate in a series of activities taking place around the province, such as workshops, public awareness and other special events that will provide early childhood educators with professional development and networking opportunities.

I ask all Honourable members to join me in thanking early childhood educators for their valuable work and for their continued commitment to the children of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Thank you.

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2016 05 30                              2:00 p.m.