CUPE Nova Scotia is welcoming the creation of a new provincial Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, and sees it as a historic development on the issue of early childhood development and learning.
CUPE NS President Danny Cavanagh says, “This important change acknowledges the vital importance of the early years and represents a critical change in philosophy on the part of our provincial government.
“Moving early childhood education and care from the Department of Community Services to the Department of Education – where it belongs – is an indication of good things to come for families who are seeking support and services with their children,” says Cavanagh.
CUPE also welcomes the creation of three new early learning centres as an important step forward for early learning and care in the province.
CUPE Child Care Co-ordinator Naomi Stewart, meanwhile, says, “We were also encouraged to hear Minister Ramona Jennex say more announcements will be coming soon on regulated child care and wages for child care workers.
“Our province holds the unenviable position of having the lowest paid child care workers in the country, so we are looking forward to hearing those details as we work to improve that sector and the working conditions of those incredibly important educators,” she says.
Stewart says the union was also encouraged to see a new focus on early Interventionists. “These are the folks who follow the babies who are born with physical or mental disabilities and create treatment plans for them through their early years’ right up to when they start school.”
For more information, please contact:
Danny Cavanagh
CUPE NS President
(902) 957-0822 (Cell)
Naomi Stewart
CUPE Child Care Co-ordinator
(902) 455-4180
John McCracken
CUPE Atlantic Communications Representative
(902) 880-8057 (Cell)