Recognize existing resources
Vancouver Island News Group -- Nanaimo News Bulletin
27 Jan 2007
Letters -- K. Chang

To the Editor,

Re: No money for Nanaimo's Early Learning Centre, Jan. 20.

Nanaimo already has many early learning centers, but the Ministry of Education and our school district doesn't seem to recognize them.

Every group daycare, preschool and early childhood centre in Nanaimo is staffed by qualified early childhood educators (with one to four years education; as required by Ministry of Health Licensing).

As early childhood educators, we actively promote early learning in all the programs. All children aged 0 to six deserve the opportunity to grow and develop emotionally, mentally and physically.

Early childhood programs offer and encourage just that.

I don't understand why the government is offering the schools money to do what is already being done in the community and at the same time taking money away (COF grant) from the very centres offering early learning to the children in their care.

The Ministry of Education would do well to partner with the Ministry of Children and Family Development, which has reduced or taken away the childcare operating fund, making it extremely difficult for those licensed professionals in our community already working as advocates for early learning.

Let's use the resources already in our community and recognize and support the many early childhood centres in Nanaimo.