Education ministry drops all-day kindergarten plan
Vancouver Island News Group - Parksville Qualicum Beach News
March 12, 2009
By: Auren Ruvinsky

After a year-long study and consultation period the B.C. Ministry of Education decided against extending Kindergarten to an all-day option and including three and four-year-olds.

The government announced they were dropping the idea during the Feb. 16 throne speech….

B.C. Teacher's Federation president Irene Lanzinger said at the time the BCTF supported the idea for five-year-olds but they didn't understand where the money and facilities for younger children would come from since the government has been cutting budgets.

Lanzinger suggested, "The government would be better off to support universally accessible, high quality daycare programs."

In proposing the initiative Education Minister Shirley Bond said the research is clear that quality early childhood developmental programs have strong benefits for children.

This year's throne speech put the initiative on hold, blaming the economy….

Education critic Norm Macdonald said the government was never clear about the costs and he is concerned about the general lack of education funding.

The Liberal government has taken much criticism from groups such as the Coalition of Child Care Advocates of B.C. which slammed the government for their lack of investment….