Okanagan College gets more funding to train early childhood educators

Jan 17, 2022 | 10:53 AM

The provincial government is providing funding for new early childhood education (ECE) seats at Okanagan College.

The college is receiving funding for 15 seats in the ECE program, for a combined total of 147 new seats at eight institutions province-wide and 56 seats at Okanagan College. The new ECE seats include full and part-time studies, online learning, and specialty programs in Indigenous community-based delivery, infant and toddler, and special needs.

In 2021-22, the province is investing $1.32 million to expand ECE seats as part of the 10-year Childcare BC plan.

Vernon-Monashee NDP MLA Harwinder Sandhu said the increased access will train more childcare workers, helping make childcare more accessible to families.

“The North Okanagan has seen incredible growth in childcare spaces, making lives easier for families,” said Sandhu. “We know we also need a well-educated, stable workforce in those spaces. That’s why we’re adding even more ECE seats at Okanagan College, giving families more options, building our workforce, and giving kids the best possible start to their education.”

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Starting in January 2022, eight public post-secondary institutions throughout B.C. are adding 147 early childhood education student spaces:

North:
Northern Lights College: 34 additional ECE student spaces.

Thompson-Okanagan:
Okanagan College: 15 additional ECE student spaces.
Thompson Rivers University: 10 additional ECE student spaces.

Kootenays:
College of the Rockies: 30 additional ECE student spaces
Selkirk College: 14 additional ECE student spaces

Vancouver Island:
Camosun College: 24 additional ECE student spaces
North Island College: 12 additional ECE student spaces
Vancouver Island University: eight additional ECE student spaces

Learn more: Early childhood education expansion helps kids get the best start

by Pete McIntyre

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