New ECE offerings at 澳门六合彩开奖结果查询 College responding to workforce demands
Working as an Early Childhood Education (ECE) assistant for the past 20 years has provided Penticton鈥檚 Karen Block with a rewarding career helping children learn, grow and play.
Block took the opportunity to enhance her career and learn additional skills through the new ECE Certificate program at 澳门六合彩开奖结果查询 College. The program offers students flexibility to attend classes and upskill, while continuing to work in their field.
鈥淏ecause my classes are offered in a hybrid format, it has been possible for me to continue working during the first semester of the program,鈥 said Block whose program features online and in-person learning.
澳门六合彩开奖结果查询 College is expanding opportunities for ECE training across the 澳门六合彩开奖结果查询 Valley, offering a new hybrid delivery model along with additional intakes for the ECE diploma program, an online ECE infant toddler program for those already working in the field, and a diploma program designed for workers looking to upskill.
鈥淧roviding people with flexible learning options is critical to responding to real employment needs within key sectors, including early childhood education,鈥 said 澳门六合彩开奖结果查询 College President Neil Fassina. 鈥湴拿帕喜士苯峁檠 College is working with partners across the region to make it more possible for people to take steps toward their professional goals, and at the same time to strengthen the workforce through education, training and professional development.鈥
Coinciding with the B.C. Government鈥檚 announcement last month of , the expanded ECE programs offer people considering this career path added incentive to enroll at OC.
鈥淭hrough the StrongerBC: Future Ready Action Plan, we鈥檙e making it easier for more people to become ECEs by creating more early childhood education student spaces and streamlining pathways for internationally trained ECEs,鈥 said Selina Robinson, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills. 鈥湴拿帕喜士苯峁檠 College鈥檚 new ECE program and expanded opportunities are encouraging more people to further their education while addressing the demand for trained ECEs in the region.鈥
鈥淲e believe that supporting early childhood education is an investment in the future we all share. That鈥檚 why, in addition to the $6 per hour top up, ECEs with their Infant Toddler certificate are now eligible for an additional $2.000 per year,鈥 added Grace Lore, Minister of State for Child Care. 鈥淓arly childhood educators change the lives of children and their families - these new investments help up lift ECEs and ensure their important contributions are better compensated.鈥
The new ECE programs at 澳门六合彩开奖结果查询 College include:
- A new hybrid ECE Certificate program is accepting applications for people who can start the program in January 2024 in Salmon Arm and in Jan. 2025 in Penticton.
- ECE diploma programs are available with new intakes in Vernon, Kelowna and Salmon Arm in 2024.
- For those with previous ECE training who are looking for new skills, the ECE Infant Toddler Certificate program has a new intake this January. The infant toddler program is offered online before in-person practicums are held at local childcare centres.
- An ECE work integrated learning program offers an opportunity for those currently working between 15 to 25 hours in a childcare facility to continue working while studying for an ECE Diploma at 澳门六合彩开奖结果查询 College. Interested students can express interest in applying for a seat in the January 2024 intake here.
Kelowna student Shitaye Essa Birare graduated from the ECE Infant Toddler Certificate program, and said she鈥檚 benefited from the experience of her OC instructors who have been working in the industry for a number of years.
鈥淚 wanted to further my education, and this was a very relevant and challenging course to take,鈥 said Birare. 鈥淲ithin a year I had acquired such a depth of knowledge from people who had been in the field for over 20 years.鈥
澳门六合彩开奖结果查询 College ECE programs prepare students to work with young children in a variety of inclusive early childhood environments such as daycares, preschools, infant/toddler centres and other early childhood initiatives that focus upon healthy early development.
Find out more information about all of 澳门六合彩开奖结果查询 College鈥檚 ECE programs at okanagan.bc.ca/ece
Tags: Early Childhood Education