Fanshawe College is launching a new part-time Early Childhood Education (ECE) program this fall in Port Elgin.
Associate Dean for the School of Access Studies and Regional Delivery Lisa Schwerzmann says this program will be held at the Fanshawe Huron/Bruce Regional Site at the Nuclear Innovation Institute (NII), beginning Sept. 5.
“We are really excited to be able to offer our ECE program in Bruce County,” says Schwerzmann. “One of the things that we became aware of over the past year in our conversations with officials in Bruce County and municipal leaders, we found there was a shortage and it was quite a significant shortage of registered early childhood educators in childcare settings, and so we became aware of this, and started a conversation around how we could help support a program offering in Bruce County to help alleviate that shortage.”
She adds she became aware the county is significantly below where they would like to be in terms of registered early childhood educators, which is also a common problem experienced across the province.
“When you don’t have enough childcare spaces available, it’s very difficult for people to be able to focus on their careers and to be able to feel comfort in terms of their work knowing that their child is being well cared for,” says Schwerzmann.
The part-time program consists of two evening per week, with one in person and one virtual, and well as two Saturdays in person each month.
“It is designed for people who are already working in the field and they would be taking a reduced course load. If you would normally take six courses in a semester as a full-time student, you would take three as a part-time student,” says Schwerzmann.
She says the classes range from child development, foundations of early childhood learning, and practical pieces of working in a childcare setting.
Students with a related diploma, degree or work experience can apply, and students can also apply to be exempt from course placement requirements if they are currently working in a licensed child care program.
In support of the program, Schwerzmann says the county is providing bursaries for students, allowing students to apply to receive financial support and pursue their education.
The program has about 25 spots available and applications are open on the Ontario College Application System website here. More information on the program can be found on the Fanshawe website here.
