Early childhood educators launch campaign calling for pay equity
“. . .
No one questions the importance of quality early learning in the first five years of a child's life, said Hahn. Indeed, that was the driving force cited when the Liberal government first introduced the pre-primary program, which provides free access to all four year olds in the province.
But while the intention of the program was to try to level the playing field for children as they prepared to enter the school system, early childhood educators such as Hahn say it created an unfair imbalance for those working in the sector.
Claudia Chender, the NDP's education critic, said addressing the situation comes down to a question of priorities for the government.
The pandemic has highlighted the disadvantages many women face in the workforce as well as the importance of reliable, quality, affordable child care, said Chender.
Pre-primary was a good first step, but now it's time for the government to extend access to all children and for that effort to incorporate the needs expressed by workers, she said.
‘I think it's a no-brainer.’“