Early Childhood Education Summit - Supporting every child's right to quality education from birth onwards across Quebec

MONTRÉAL, May 5, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - Hosted by the Association québécoise des centres de la petite enfance (AQCPE, Quebec's leading association of early childhood centres), the Early Childhood Education Summit was attended or watched online by more than 2,500 people—early childhood stakeholders, businesspeople, scientists, politicians and civil society representatives.

"Today, civil society is calling out to decision makers, and we're witnessing the rebirth of Quebec's Family Policy, 20 years after its implementation," said AQCPE president and CEO Louis Senécal. "A very wide range of organizations has publicly laid down the founding principles of a common vision for the future of early childhood education."

The declaration adopted in conjunction with the Summit, which the public will also be invited to sign, was developed jointly by 31 civil society organizations. It focuses on the nature, quality and accessibility of the education continuum. Signatories commit to promoting the declaration's principles, securing wider support for them, and taking part in future discussions on how to implement them.

Equal opportunity was the number one item on the Summit's agenda, with partners reiterating the importance of offering universal access to quality educational services from birth onwards. This must be the cornerstone that will guide the future of our great family policy. All partners also agreed that the government will need to play a key role in implementing the policy and providing the resources needed to make our collective dream come true.

"The Quebec population has spoken, and decision makers need to acknowledge what was said and to take action," said Louis Senécal. "The time has come to look forward and to rise above our differences so that all our little ones can have equal opportunities to succeed in life."

Next steps

The AQCPE commits to continuing to provide leadership on early childhood education matters and to following through with commitments resulting from the Summit. This will include calling on all political parties to make their positions known in time for the next provincial election.

About the AQCPE

The Association québécoise des centres de la petite enfance (AQCPE) is a network of social economy enterprises representing the interests of most daycare centres and coordinating offices for home-based daycare across Quebec. The AQCPE is recognized by its many partners as a leading stakeholder in the early childhood community, and its mission is to provide Quebec-wide leadership on all early childhood education and childcare issues.

SOURCE Association québécoise des centres de la petite enfance

Marie-Pier Côté, 418-999-4847, [email protected]