WAGE INCREASE FOR CHILD CARE STAFF ANNOUNCED DURING EARLY LEARNING AND CHILD CARE MONTH

As his first official duty during Early Learning and Child Care Month, Education Minister Ken Krawetz today announced a $1.7 million commitment to fund a four per cent increase in wages for individuals working in licensed child care centres. The increase is expected to bring the average hourly wage for trained early childhood educators up from $13.90 per hour to $14.50 per hour.

"Saskatchewan's child care professionals do an excellent job in working with our young children to stimulate their intellectual, social, physical and emotional growth," Krawetz said. "Higher wages help child care centres to recruit and retain the people who play such a major role in the lives of Saskatchewan's infants, toddlers and pre-schoolers. Their wages need to reflect the important work that they, do as well as their post-secondary credentials."

The announcement was made at the new Kids First Adult Campus Child Care Centre in Regina. The centre is operated by a board of directors and serves parents attending the Regina Public School Board's Adult Campus, parents attending other public high schools or SIAST and clients of the Regina Open Door society, as well other community members.

"This commitment from the Government provides us with the ongoing support needed to continue providing our families and their children with the high-quality child care programs they deserve," Kids First Adult Campus Child Care Centre director Shondell Neithercut said. "The Government has proven that early childhood education continues to be a priority."

"It is important that we take time to recognize and thank early childhood educators for the important contributions they make to Saskatchewan's children and families," Krawetz said. "Early learning and child care is a priority for my government. In this year's provincial budget we provided an 11.3 per cent or $3.4 million increase to early learning and child care and invested an additional $2 million for 38 more Prekindergarten programs to serve an additional 600 children and their families."

Later this month, the Minister will announce the locations of the 500 new child care spaces that were announced in this year's provincial budget.

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For more information, contact:

Jacquie McLean
Education
Regina
Phone: 306-787-5609
Email: jmclean@sasked.gov.sk.ca