N.S. government to begin rollout of pre-primary program in September

Nova Scotia’s Liberal government announced the rollout of a key election campaign promise to provide a free pre-primary program for four-year-olds across the province Tuesday, prompting critics to charge that it is acting in haste while undercutting existing non-profit providers.

Education Minister Zach Churchill said 30 new classrooms would be added to 20 existing classes beginning in September, meaning the playbased learning program would be offered in 50 classrooms at 43 locations.

The plan is to have the program in place for all four-yearolds over the next four years at an estimated cost of $49.9 million a year. But Churchill said an additional $750,000 was needed to expand the program.