New Brunswick has ranked first in a report on early childhood education released by the University of Toronto's Ontario Institute for Studies in Education.
"Our province is committed to providing quality early learning and child-care services to New Brunswick families, and the results of this report show how far we have come," said Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Bill Hogan. "Those who work in the early learning sector are shaping the adults of tomorrow, and they are supporting families who are at work and studying. They work incredibly hard every day and we deeply appreciate the work they do in laying the foundation for our youngest learners."
The report, released every three years, measures the quality of early learning and child-care systems in each province and territory by evaluating five categories: governance, funding, access, learning environments and accountability.
The latest report, which uses data from March 2023, ranks New Brunswick highest, with a score of 13.25 out of 15.
Below are the points awarded to New Brunswick since the institute's first report was released:
- 2011 - 4.5 points
- 2014 - 8 points
- 2017 - 9.5 points
- 2020 - 10.75 points
- 2023 - 13.25 points
Hogan said initiatives such as the New Brunswick Early Learning Centre and New Brunswick Early Learning Home designation program have laid the groundwork for a high-quality system accessible to all families, ensuring every child receives the support needed to thrive. He said this created a strong and comprehensive foundation as a framework for early learning in the province.
The government also implemented a legislative and public policy framework that provides cost and quality controls for operators; it focuses on improving children's learning environments while ensuring operators have viable businesses and parents have access to low-cost, high-quality care and education for their children.
"While it has taken us time to build an accountable system with public planning, public management and public financing, I am very proud of the progress we have made over the past decade and a half," said Hogan. "We have not only exceeded our own expectations but have outpaced provinces like Quebec and Prince Edward Island - provinces that have been leading this sector for decades. New Brunswick has demonstrated steady improvements over the years. This reflects our unwavering commitment to building an early learning and child-care system of high quality that families can rely on and where every child receives appropriate services so they can reach their full potential."
Out-of-pocket fees paid by families were reduced by an average of 50 per cent in June 2022. The goal is to have fees average $10 per day by March 2026. As of this month, the provincial average daily cost of preschool care is $12.82. The turnover rate for early childhood educators is now at 23 per cent, down from 50.1 per cent in 2021.
"Early childhood educators are vital to delivering quality child care, and while we have made considerable improvements in the retention of qualified educators, we are not done," said Hogan. "We will focus our efforts to support the recruitment and retention of the early childhood educator workforce. And we will remain focused on our top priority, which is building a better early learning and education system."
