Junior kindergarten coming next year
Territorial government moving ahead on free early education program for four-year-olds
Shane Magee
Northern News Services
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The territorial government plans to launch junior kindergarten in Yellowknife and other parts of the territory at the start of the next school year after scuttling plans two years ago in the face of withering criticism from school boards and MLAs over funding.
The decision follows a year-long review of the program.
"As (the Department of Education, Culture and Employment) has been mandated by the 18th legislative assembly to work with stakeholders and communities to explore options for free play-based care for four-year-olds, junior kindergarten (JK) will be implemented territorially in the 2017-18 school year," department spokesperson Krystal Pidborochynski stated by e-mail Monday.
Junior kindergarten began in small communities during the 2014-15 school year. It was to expand to regional centres, such as Hay River the following year, then the capital this year.
The program came under fire from school officials and then MLAs after it became apparent the GNWT planned to fund it by clawing back surpluses from school boards, and for duplicating existing programming like Aboriginal Head Start in smaller communities such as Fort Providence.
The expansion was halted by the GNWT in the fall of 2014 so a review of the initiative could be carried out.
The program review included consulting with more than 400 people. That wrapped up a year ago. The department initially refused to release the report even after receiving an access to information request.
When it was subsequently released, the GNWT announced it would begin another round of consultations with schools and day cares.
Yellowknife Education District No. 1 has heard little since then.
"It hasn't been a topic at our table for quite some time," said Yk1 board of trustees chairperson John Stephenson earlier this month.
Stephenson is supportive of the program but wants to clarity how it will be funded so it doesn't cut into existing programming.
The last time it was a topic at the Yk1 board was when Education Minister Alfred Moses met with school officials last February.
Miles Welsh, acting chairperson of the Yellowknife Catholic Schools board of trustees, said the board is aware of the proposed implementation timeline. Yet questions remain.
"The funding for JK will impact the schools but at this point in time we are not sure in what ways," Welsh stated earlier this month.
The program was expected to cost around $7.4 million territory-wide at the start of the first year of implementation in 2014 with funding coming directly from school board surpluses. The Catholic school board was expecting to see cuts of $700,000 during the initial two years of the program as it was being launched in smaller communities but a return of $484,000 this year with the start of junior kindergarten in Yellowknife.
Plans were thrown somewhat in disarray after four out of 23 communities dropped out of the program, followed by a GNWT announcement that it was suspending the launch of junior kindergarten in Yellowknife and regional centres after facing criticism.
It remains unclear how the GNWT plans to fund junior kindergarten this time.
Yellowknife Centre MLA Julie Green hasn't heard much about the issue.
"I'm not sure what the department is cooking up but the consultations they announced don't seem to have started yet as far as I can tell," said Yellowknife Centre MLA Julie Green.
Pidborochynski stated consultations have started with teachers and principals to get feedback on ways to implement junior kindergarten in a way that is more seamless.
"Thus far, the feedback from teachers has helped to strengthen teacher resources for play-based learning and assessment," Pidborochynski stated.
"Engagement will continue into the fall and the information received will continue to guide the details of implementing junior kindergarten across the NWT for 2017-18."
The completed review report was expected to be presented to MLAs during the 17th legislative. It wasn't.
The report released at the end of January this year came with eight recommendations:
- continue the program in existing locations;
- expand while accounting for local context so that it doesn't take away from existing programming;
- develop a funding model in consultation with local education authorities;
- a clear implementation communication strategy;
- set appropriate child-teacher ratios;
- more teacher-development related to early education;
- alter the kindergarten curriculum to show what activities are best for junior kindergarten;
- and carry out ongoing consultation and collaboration on the findings of the review.
