Assiniboine Community College is offering the Early Childhood Education (ECE) Workplace program in two new locations in early 2023.

The diploma program is intended for those who are currently employed by a childcare centre and have a minimum of two years of experience in the field. The college is currently accepting applications for the ECE Workplace program, which will begin on January 10, 2023.

The program will allow students to remain working at the centre they’re currently employed with, attending classes two days a week. “The Workplace reiteration of the ECE program takes into account the students’ prior experience in the field, which allows the program to be delivered in a concentrated format,” said Karen Hargreaves, Dean of Health and Human Services at Assiniboine.

"While the program is two years in length, comparable to the conventional ECE program, having two days of classes per week rather than five allows students to continue working while they complete the program.”

There will be cohorts in both Dauphin and Virden, with 20 seats available in each cohort. Students who complete the program will receive a diploma in Early Childhood Education, which will allow them to apply for their ECE Level 2 classification.

“Trained and certified workers in this profession are in high demand. This new program assists in meeting these demands with individuals who have previously invested time in learning about this profession,” said Rennais Gayle, Chairperson of Early Childhood Education at Assiniboine.

 

The Early Childhood Education Workplace program is offered every two years, rotating throughout the province.