All-day kindergarten on hold; Province backs away from plan, but district still hopeful
Coquitlam Now
February 18, 2009
By: Jennifer McFee

Plans for all-day kindergarten classes were paused by the provincial government in a throne-speech announcement Monday.

Speaking on behalf of Premier Gordon Campbell, Lieutenant-Governor Steven Point said the voluntary program would not be implemented in September as hoped.

"Regrettably, three factors will delay its introduction. Current economic circumstances, the need to develop appropriate space and the time to recruit qualified educators means it is not feasible in 2009," Point said. "However, government is committed to that vision and will commence creating space and teacher capacity to meet that need as soon as possible."

Education opposition critic Norm Macdonald remains doubtful plans will ever be in place.

"I think it was never seriously going to be put forward and that's disappointing. I think there are an awful lot of parents that heard this idea and thought it was something that would work for them," Macdonald told The NOW Tuesday.

"Each family is unique and has different needs and different wishes, but there are advantages for many families for all-day kindergarten. And when you sit and talk about the possibilities as an educator, it's exciting to think about what it could offer families."

Unlike Macdonald, school board chair Melissa Hyndes foresees the program in the district's future.

"In Coquitlam, I think it will come eventually. Most of our elementary schools would have been able to accommodate the program, but money would have been an issue for us," she said. ….