All-day kindergarten: double the story time and more employment opportunities

Over the next two years, BC will introduce all-day kindergarten for five-year-olds. And this means that districts across the province will be hiring teachers to meet the demand.

Why all-day kindergarten? Studies show that one in four children in BC are considered to be developmentally vulnerable when they start school. Exposing young children to a holistic, age-appropriate and play-based full-day learning environment can help them develop the emotional, social and academic foundation they'll need to succeed in the classroom.

BC isn't alone in this initiative – New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Quebec all offer full-day kindergarten for five-year-olds, and Ontario is planning to introduce a similar program in September 2010. But expanding the current half-day system will bring many changes, including the need for more teachers, more resources and more classroom spaces in our schools.

"BC will phase in voluntary full-day kindergarten over the next two years, offering the program to half of all five-year-olds for September 2010 and for all five-year-olds by 2011," says Janet Stewart, director of Make a Future – Careers in BC Education.

"This is good news for educators looking for work in this area."

We'll keep you up to date on this initiative as it develops. Check back frequently for job postings and more information.