Full-day kindergarten could soon be offered at schools across Nunavut.

This fall, the Department of Education will begin testing an all-day kindergarten program in five schools in the territory. If the pilot project is successful, the program will gradually be made available to other schools.

SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 so much that has been reported to be beneficial in running a full-day kindergarten,SA国际影视传媒� said Department of Education Deputy Minister Rebecca Hainnu, a mother of two and a former teacher, vice-principal and principal at Clyde RiverSA国际影视传媒檚 Quluaq School. SA国际影视传媒淚t will support the development of early language acquisitions in Inuktitut, in Inuinnaqtun, or in English or French.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檒l be able to monitor and ensure that students are acquiring the same skillsets that other students in other jurisdictions are getting.SA国际影视传媒�

The full-day kindergarten pilot project will be implemented at Nanook School in Apex, Victor Sammurtok School in Chesterfield Inlet, Qaqqalik School in Kimmirut, Jimmy Hikok Ilihakvik in Kugluktuk, and Inuglak School in Whale Cove.

The purpose of the project, according to a Department of Education press release, is SA国际影视传媒渃onfirming departmental resources needed to support a full-day kindergarten program, testing of the program, learning how the program stands up to real-life scenarios, making improvements to the program prior to full roll-out, and ensuring buy-in from relevant stakeholders.SA国际影视传媒�

Some parents have concerns about the feasibility of a territory-wide full-day kindergarten program.

Emma Baasch is the Vice President of the Iqaluit Parents and Tots Association, and the mother of a child who will start the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 standard half-day kindergarten program next year. She admits she is SA国际影视传媒渧ery skepticalSA国际影视传媒� about the governmentSA国际影视传媒檚 ability to manage an full-day program.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think everyoneSA国际影视传媒檚 fear is it will be introduced and there wonSA国际影视传媒檛 be enough teachers for it to be everywhere, and it will be in some places but not everywhere,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 already a significant shortage of teachers, as well as people who specialize in early childhood education in the territory.

SA国际影视传媒淲hile I think the program will work and it will probably be good for kids and parents, ISA国际影视传媒檓 not overly optimistic that it will be staffed effectively SA国际影视传媒� at least for a while.SA国际影视传媒�

Hainnu has heard parentsSA国际影视传媒� concerns, and notes first and foremost that SA国际影视传媒渢he department does not have legal authority to require or mandate full-day kindergarten,SA国际影视传媒� meaning some communities may decline to use the program.

Among interested communities, the department is planning to implement a phased roll-out that will distribute the program SA国际影视传媒渆qually to the three regionsSA国际影视传媒� of Nunavut.

SA国际影视传媒淲e need to plan it out,SA国际影视传媒� Hainnu said. SA国际影视传媒淲e need to make sure we have kindergarten teachers in the communities, that they can go through the training with us.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e looking at the constructions costs and where can we do it fastest in the best, most resource efficient way.SA国际影视传媒�

With SA国际影视传媒渟o many factorsSA国际影视传媒� in play, Hainnu says it is too early to provide a firm date for the implementation of Nunavut-wide, full-day kindergarten. However, she is SA国际影视传媒渧ery optimisticSA国际影视传媒� it will happen in the near future.

Baasch, while skeptical, is hopeful it can be pulled off.