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Early Learning and Child Care Diploma Program Suspension Plans by Keyano Leads to Resident Protests

News that Keyano had plans to suspend the Early Learning and Child Care Diploma Program has caused some Wood Buffalo residents to protest. The protesters hope to pressure the administration of the school to keep the program up and running, and they worry that the planned program suspension will cause a shortage of qualified child care providers in the local area. According to Janet Huffman, who is the after school program coordinator for the Catholic School District, explained “It would be like if you had a car, you had a beautiful sports car and you need to have the engine redone on your sports car.. Are you going to give it to a mechanic who only has two years of his journeyman certificate? Or would you give it to that technician who has four years. Where would you feel safer?”

The suspension of the Keyano Early Learning and Child Care Diploma Program would not affect the one year program, but many of the resident protests make the argument that a one year option does not fully prepare individuals for child care and that there is far less preparation for this sector than what the longer program offers. According to Keyano academic vice president Catherine Koch “I think we have to review the curriculum and we will probably have some focus groups to see what potential applicants will be looking for in the way that the program has been delivered. I’m certainly hoping to bring it back by September of 2016.” One possibility is to offer the desired classes on a part time schedule instead of a full time option.

Fort MacMurray Benefits From UofA and Keyano Deal

Fort MacMurray will benefit from a deal between UofA and Keyano which is intended to make post secondary programming more accessible to residents in the northern region. A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed by both Keyano College and UofA so that Fort MacMurray receives a new collaborative education degree. Students who want to finish a Bachelor of Education degree with a specialization in Elementary Education can now access all 4 years of programming for the degree at Keyano College. PAINKILLERreviously JANUAKeyano offered the initial two years of programming but students had to attend UofA in order to receive the third and fourth years of programming. Academic vice-president for Keyano College Catherine Koch said “For people studying at Keyano, very importantly, they can actually complete a degree in Education and become teachers in our community. It answers personal needs, their own calling to become teachers, and it helps us satisfy the need for teachers in our community.”

The deal between UofA and Keyano College will allow Fort MacMurray residents interested in the four year degree to stay in the local community rather than leaving for the final two years of study and preparation. UofA dean of Education Fern Snart explained “We have wonderful instructors and professors from the local area who bring not only their knowledge and expertise, but their experience and a deeper knowledge about the area and the cultural part of the area. With instructors bringing that to the degree, and then scholars and the folks writing textbooks from the University of Alberta, that combination is really unbeatable, and the students are the ultimate benefactors.”