Education and Early Childhood Development
December 29, 2017

Students and Families Benefit from Education and Child Care Investments and Initiatives in 2017

Guided by The Way Forward, several milestones in the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development have been reached in 2017 through various investments and initiatives in early learning and K-12 infrastructure and programming throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

Some highlights included:

  • The Government of Canada and the Provincial Government signed a three-year $22 million bilateral agreement for early learning and child care investments.
  • Budget 2017 committed a $1.3 million increase to the annual Early Learning and Child care supplement budget to reflect an hourly pay increase for early childhood educators in 2017-18.
  • Budget 2017 committed an additional $2 million annually to support the Child Care Subsidy Program. In June, the income threshold was adjusted for the first time since 2007, from $27,500 to $32,000.
  • Seven new schools opened:
    • Brookside Intermediate
    • CBS Elementary
    • Eastside Elementary
    • Juniper Ridge Intermediate
    • East Point Elementary
    • Gander Elementary
    • École intermédiaire et secondaire francophone de Saint-Jean
    • St. Anne (Se’t A’newey Kina’matino’kuom) School (federally funded)
    • The release of the Premier’s Task Force on Educational Outcomes, Now is The Time. The report contains 82 recommendations, which will guide the development of an Education Action Plan. Improvements will begin to be put in place for the 2018 school year.
  • Establishment of a steering committee to oversee the implementation of the province’s Education Action Plan.
  • Implementation of a new Child Care Act and Regulations.
  • Approximately 80 school and 20 child care centre visits.
  • Minister Kirby spoke and represented the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada at 39th Session of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) General Conference in Paris, France.

Quote
“It has been a busy and exciting year for education and early learning in our province. As a government, we continue to strive to enhance and enrich the education system. I thank all of those working in the sector for their hard work and commitment to all our children and youth throughout the province. I look forward to continuing our efforts in 2018 as we work collectively to provide the best learning opportunities we can.”
Honourable Dale Kirby
Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development

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Learn more
Provincial and Federal Governments Sign Bilateral Agreement on Early Learning and Child Care gov.nl.ca/releases/2017/exec/1215n02.aspx

Provincial Government Announces Increase to Annual Early Learning and Child Care Supplement Program gov.nl.ca/releases/2017/edu/0803n05.aspx

Minister Kirby Announces Key Milestone for Affordable Child Care gov.nl.ca/releases/2017/edu/0601n06.aspx

Celebrating the Official Opening of CBS Elementary School gov.nl.ca/releases/2017/edu/1124n02.aspx

Celebrating the Official Opening of Eastside Elementary in Corner Brook gov.nl.ca/releases/2017/edu/1027n02.aspx

Minister Kirby joins Juniper Ridge Intermediate in Celebrating Official Opening gov.nl.ca/releases/2017/edu/1018n04.aspx

Celebrating the Official Opening of East Point Elementary School gov.nl.ca/releases/2017/edu/1013n03.aspx

Ministers Kirby and Haggie join Gander Elementary in Celebrating Official Opening gov.nl.ca/releases/2017/edu/1004n06.aspx

Celebrating the Official Opening of École intermédiaire et secondaire francophone de Saint-Jean gov.nl.ca/releases/2017/edu/1117n05.aspx

Premier Ball Releases Final Report of the Premier’s Task Force on Improving Educational Outcomes gov.nl.ca/releases/2017/exec/0725n04.aspx

Positive Progress Being Made on Premier’s Task Force on Educational Outcomes www.releases.gov.nl.ca/releases/2017/edu/1221n03.aspx

Minister Kirby Introduces New Child Care Act gov.nl.ca/releases/2017/edu/0731n12.aspx

Minister Kirby Provides Update on UNESCO Conference gov.nl.ca/releases/2017/edu/1108n05.aspx

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Media contact
Debbie Marnell
Education and Early Childhood Development
709-729-1906, 699-9048
debbiemarnell@gov.nl.ca

2017 12 29                             11:10 a.m.