Nova Scotia says they expect to open pre-primary classrooms across the province by the end of September, according to a press release sent out on Thursday.
This is despite hiring being completed in only two of the eight school boards that are scheduled to offer pre-primary programming.
“School boards are in various stages of the hiring process. Recruitment will continue until all positions are filled,” reads the press release.
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According to the education department, only the Tri-County School Board has completed the hiring process, with six classrooms scheduled to open the week of Sept. 25.
Parents in the region of that school will be contacted later this week about the pre-primary positions.
“Research shows the benefits pre-primary programming has for children,” said Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Zach Churchill in the press release.
“Providing every family with free, equal access to pre-primary levels the playing field for all children and gives them a head start on learning.”
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Lisa Davies, chair of the Non Profit Directors Association of Nova Scotia, said it’s unclear at this point whether a significant number of the new hires for the public system are coming from the private sector, potentially creating fresh shortages.
“We are hearing a little bit of word about interviews and a couple here and there that have put in their notice,” Davies said. “In the non-profit sector we are starting to hear a little bit around the Halifax Regional Municipality.”
Pamela Streeter, who runs several early education programs including pre-primary at Creative Kids Education Centre in Hammonds Plains, is among those who have voiced skepticism about the province’s ability to find enough qualified staff.
Streeter said she too has heard some anecdotal evidence the private sector is starting to lose staff. She added she isn’t surprised the Halifax board in particular has been able to hire to the extent that it has.
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“(Halifax) has found their staff because this is where the majority of them live anyway,” Streeter said. “It will be interesting to see how the rural areas do.”
Fifty classrooms across the province in 43 different locations are supposed to offer free pre-primary programming.
That figure includes 20 pre-existing programs for four-year-olds, including eight programs that are part of the early years centres.
According to the press release, school boards will contact pre-registered parents to confirm their registration once classroom staffing is complete.
No dates were provided on when that may happen for each school board.
— With files from The Canadian Press