Demand drives expansion of early education program
With demand soaring for staff at childcare facilities, Okanagan College is expanding its early childhood education program.
Beginning in mid-March, the Early Childhood Education certificate program is adding 24 new spaces at the Penticton campus, the college said in a media release.
The new program spaces are on top of the 145 already offered at the college’s Vernon, Kelowna and Penticton campuses.
“Families in the Interior depend on childcare being available and that is why we are working with Okanagan College to continue to open doors for students to pursue early childhood education,” said Selina Robinson, Minister of PostSecondary Education and Future Skills.
“This government is taking action on early childhood educator training. Our efforts are bearing fruit as enrollment has grown by 40 per cent across British Columbia.”
The program prepares graduates to work with children in a variety of early learning and childcare settings, certifying them to plan enriched programs in daycares and preschools that focus upon healthy development throughout children’s early years.
Designed to fast-track students into the sector, the new intake runs from March 13, 2023, to May 3, 2024, with a break over the summer months, the release said.
“With a constant need for early childhood educators across the region, Okanagan College is offering a program that is flexible and allows students opportunities to learn and gain valuable workplace experience,” said Okanagan College president Dr. Neil Fassina.
“We encourage and support students to take the first step to enrol in this program at our Penticton campus, and from there they will gain high-quality training that prepares them to join the local workforce quickly and job-ready.”
Successful completion of the three-semester program meets the ECE registry training requirements for a Certificate to practice as a basic early childhood educator.
Anyone interested in finding out more or applying to the program
can visit the college’s website: okanagan.bc.ca/early-childhoodeducation-certificate or call 250-4924305 or 1-866-510-8899