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TORONTO, Ont. Full-day learning for four- and five-year-olds is the right kind of investment in Ontario’s future and will succeed as long as all concerned parties are part of its implementation, says the union representing thousands of the province’s early childhood educators (ECEs).
This fundamental change in early learning is the right thing to do for our children and for our communities, said CUPE Ontario President Sid Ryan. I have to congratulate the provincial government for looking at the long-term and moving forward with an investment in the future that will help stimulate the economy by creating new permanent jobs and tackling poverty.
As it proceeds, the government must be mindful of the long-term goal of a seamless, integrated day of early learning and development appropriate for young children, Ryan said, noting that this is also the goal of CUPE’s members who work as ECEs.
The best way to keep our eyes on the prize is to involve all concerned parties in the implementation of this new program. That means parents, schools, school- and community-based child care agencies, ECEs and teachers and the unions that represent them, he said. Particularly, the province must take care not to disrupt existing child-care programs as we go through the transition to an integrated, seamless day.
CUPE ECE members are proud to be part of this new development in early learning and want to continue working with the education ministry and other partners on program development, he said.
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For more information, please contact:
Sid Ryan President, CUPE Ontario (416) 209-0066 (cell)
