The Government of Canada and the GNWT have reached an agreement on an extension to the CanadaSA国际影视传媒揘orthwest Territories Early Learning and Child Care Agreement.

Funding amounts to more than $10 million over four years for the NWT, which will improve access to inclusive early-learning and child-care programs and services.

In addition, a one-time investment of over $2.5 million is also being made to help support NWTSA国际影视传媒檚 workforce development. The agreement ensures that funding will continue to be available to support these programs until March 2025.

Aurora College is in a SA国际影视传媒減rime positionSA国际影视传媒� to play a key role in providing high-quality early learning and child care in the NWT, according to Jeff OSA国际影视传媒橩eefe, vice-president of student affairs.

SA国际影视传媒淲e have grown our early learning and child care (ELCC) program by expanding program delivery options and student intake and will continue to work towards doubling the program over the next three years,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

As for facility upgrades, such as child-care spaces, OSA国际影视传媒橩eefe believes students and staff would certainly benefit from the added support for parents and caregivers.

SA国际影视传媒淪uch investment in early learning and child care will, in part, lay the groundwork for a greater number of child-care spaces available across the Northwest Territories,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淢oving forward, as part of the transformation into a polytechnic university, the potential expansions of Aurora College facilities and supports will be examined, including in the area of child care.SA国际影视传媒�

With regards to current plans, OSA国际影视传媒橩eefe touched on the new additions and planning for the foreseeable future.

SA国际影视传媒淔or 2021-22, we have added a new cohort starting on campus this fall and are planning for a significant increase in the number of ELCC students taking distance courses from their home communities.SA国际影视传媒� said OSA国际影视传媒橩eefe. SA国际影视传媒淭his is a significant social, economic and educational agenda, and Aurora College is planning accordingly to meet the post-secondary and professional development needs of early childhood educators in the Northwest Territories.SA国际影视传媒�

Highlights of the extended agreement between the federal and territorial governments include:

- Improving access to post-secondary education programs and professional development for early childhood educators

- Distributing cultural education resources

- Ensuring health and safety in child-care centres; offsetting the cost of equipment supporting quality play-based environments

- Increasing the number of child-care spaces

SA国际影视传媒淗igh-quality early learning and child care in the Northwest Territories is foundational to setting children up for success later in life,SA国际影视传媒� Education Minister R.J. Simpson stated. SA国际影视传媒淭he extension of the existing CanadaSA国际影视传媒揘orthwest Territories Early Learning and Child Care Agreement means that there will be support for early childhood educators to promote the social, emotional, physical and cognitive development of children in the Northwest Territories.SA国际影视传媒�