Early childhood educators in short supply
Vancouver Island News Group - Nanaimo News Bulletin
March 13, 2008

Some of Nanaimo's youngest citizens are in child-care limbo because of early childhood educator shortages.

"There is an extreme shortage in the city," said Betty Bugley, Early Childhood Educators of B.C. Nanaimo branch chairwoman. "It's at crisis levels."

Every day she gets phone calls and e-mails from facilities looking for staff. Many are licensed for more child spaces, but can't open them without more staff.

And as shortages continue, enrolment in Malaspina University-College training is dropping. Nancy McInnes, chairwoman of MalU's Early Childhood Education program, said the program was roughly half full this year and last.

McInnes said until something is done to address wages, workers won't stay.

Sheila Davidson, executive director of the provincial ECE organization, said it is starting a campaign for a starting wage of $20 an hour. Current wages range $9 to $18 an hour.

Davidson said ECEBC wants a universal system to address wages, recruitment and retention issues.

She said one of the problems is wages tied directly to parent fees and parents are given a $100-a-month benefit to offset childcare, but it isn't enough….

In March 2007 the federal government canceled the 2005 Early Learning Education and Child Care agreement, a cut of $455 million over the next three years in B.C….