Catholic teachers commend government for continued investment in education

TORONTO, March 26 /CNW/ - The Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association (OECTA) commends the government for a provincial budget that keeps the province moving forward on its commitment to full-day Kindergarten and subsidized child care.

"In our experience, amassed over 30 years of delivering full-day Kindergarten, we know that it's good for children and for the province," says James Ryan, OECTA President. "Especially in these difficult economic times, investment in education pays solid dividends over time."

The budget promises a $200 million investment in the Early Learning Kindergarten Program (ELKP) in 2010-11 and $300 million in 2011-12, including capital investment to support the program's implementation.

The government's investment of $63.5 million a year will preserve much needed subsidized child care spaces and 1,000 child care sector jobs.

"OECTA has long advocated that this child care funding be provided," says Ryan. Access to high quality early learning and child care benefits children, and is an important pathway out of poverty for low-income families, he adds.

OECTA believes that it is prudent and wise to run a deficit to ensure that Ontario's economy recovers, and that every Ontarian benefits from the recovery.

OECTA represents the 45,000 women and men who teach from Kindergarten through high school in Ontario's publicly funded English Catholic schools.

For further information: James Ryan, President, [phone], ext 48 (office) or Mobile [phone]