Government introduced amendments to the Pre-primary Education Act today, Sept. 27, that will give school boards the explicit authority to deliver the provincial pre-primary program to four-year-olds across the province.
“Children have received early learning opportunities in schools across the province for decades,” said Zach Churchill, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development. “The amendments will support school boards to continue delivering pre-primary in a consistent manner, and expand upon opportunities to deliver the program across the province.”
The amendments will:
— allow school boards, subject to approval, the authority to enter into an agreement with a provider to deliver pre-primary education in their community
— provide the minister of Education and Early Childhood Development the legislative authority to enter agreements regarding funding for the pre-primary program
— introduce language into the act to improve the clarity of the legislation.
In July 2017, the province announced the first 50 pre-primary classrooms, across 43 locations, that will offer the program to four-year-olds this fall.
All 50 original classrooms in 43 sites will open by Sept. 29. An additional two classes in two locations, will be added by mid-October.
The province will continue to add pre-primary classes across the province during the next four years and regulations for the Pre-primary Education Act are under development.
Source: Release