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By Peter Biggs
INTEREST in pre-school education has increased markedly
in Christian schools.
The B.C. government’s February throne speech
indicated an intention to study the feasibility of increasing early
education for three, four and five year olds.
It was proposed that kindergarten children would attend
full 9 am – 3 pm days; four year olds and three year olds would
attend pre-school for full days.
The proposal is still under consideration by the
Early Childhood Learning Agency, which has extended its deadline for
consultation.
“There have been more than 1,300 responses to the
. . . agency’s request for input on full-day kindergarten and
pre-kindergarten,” education minister Shirley Bond said July 18.
Accordingly, interested parents who wish to have input
into the proposal now have until August 15 to submit responses.
Fred Herfst has been involved with independent schools
for more than 30 years. As executive director of the Federation of
Independent School Associations in Vancouver, and a committed Christian, he
is an authority on trends affecting Christian schools.
“Studies have shown that 25 percent of children
coming into kindergarten show signs of developmental immaturity and are
unable to engage in learning activities,” he said.
Herfst outlined his view of how things might unfold.
“With a timeline of throne speech, feasibility study, the report,
leading to decisions in early 2009, and all prior to an election
– it seems likely that a significant change will take place in early
education.”
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As with kindergarten, which is optional, attendance of
four and five year olds would also be optional under the proposed changes.
However, it is unclear if – or how – the
government could provide such an option.
Herfst believes that, if implemented, the new system
would affect about 70,000 children in B.C. “Government funding may
come into play – either partial, complete or subsidized, for poorer
parents,” he said.
What is clear, he noted, is that there are significant
opportunities for Christian schools to provide pre-school services over the
next few years.
“Facilities will be a critical issue, along with
qualified staffing,” Herfst said.
August 2008
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