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Last Updated: Jul 2nd, 2008 - 20:21:03
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The Alberta government’s ambitious plan to create 14,000 new child care spaces for babies to 12-year-olds includes a nod to the concept of housing such services at our schools. But one wonders whether the province’s push to build new schools in partnership with the private sector might derail the sound concept.
That’s the fear raised by New Democrat Rachel Notley, who, in advance of the provincial child care announcement, called on the province to include space for day care and after-school programs in the 134 schools under construction around the province.
Notley sounded an alarm bell that the province’s reliance on public-private partnerships might complicate what makes simple good sense — making schools the focal point for education of young Albertans of all ages.
“If school boards don’t own their buildings, they have little to no control over who can rent space, and that includes day care centres,” she said in a release Thursday. “If they are forced to negotiate with a private company, day cares might be offered the space, but at a rent so high they can’t stay afloat.”
The province’s announcement Friday includes $42 million in capital funding over the next three years to support the creation of child care spaces “in and adjacent to schools through the purchase of modulars.”
On one hand, that plan gives the appearance day care and after-school care is an after thought, where as such programs could be incorporated in the design stage. Conversely, the use of modulars may make some sense from a practical standpoint so programs can be more mobile as neighbourhoods and needs change.
Clearly, though, bringing schools and child care together makes sense.
In Manitoba, the provincial government made schools a first-choice location for child care centres in a policy announcement more than two years ago, and child care centres have existed in schools for more than 20 years. Today, according to the Manitoba government website, 38 per cent of child care centres are located in schools.
That province points to research by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, among others, which supports investment in school infrastructure to bring the full slate of child care services under one roof in one location. In addition to linking child care and education for the benefit of children themselves, there’d be few parents who’d argue the convenience of having their child care needs met at a single site. In Manitoba, child care centres have made the most of space that was otherwise going unused or under used.
There are some schools in Lethbridge that already have some preschool component and some after-school care. An expansion of these opportunities will be welcome news to parents who want children of all ages to have access to quality programming and safe surroundings.
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