N.L. childhood education worst in country: report

A report released Tuesday on early childhood education gives Newfoundland and Labrador the lowest grade of any province or territory in the country.

The Early Years Study 3, which follows two previous studies, looks at the state of early childhood education and is a collaboration of several foundations including the Jimmy Pratt Foundation in Newfoundland and Labrador.

"We don't have a favourable ranking in the country. We are lagging all of the other provinces," said David Philpott, a professor at Memorial University and a board member of the Jimmy Pratt Foundation.

"[The province needs] daycare that's seen as part of education, as part of human development, as part of a resource for families that's linked in with the k-12 curriculum so that children have universal access and that children with unique needs and challenges are identified earlier and facilitated towards healthier development."

Philpott is urging the province to act and said if it doesn't recognize the report, it is limiting future generations. 

"This study tells us how we can act … if they don't act I think it's a comment on families, a comment on the value of early childhood education … and the price will be paid — that price is limited opportunities, less civic engagement, more youth justice issues, more higher rates of special education, ongoing health issues, and on and on," Philpott told CBC News.

The minister of family services said the province will recognize the study, and is in the midst of drawing up a 10 year strategy plan for daycare.

"We have made improvements, but no doubt there is room to improve. Particularly around accessibility, but also affordability is something we hear a lot from parents. It's very costly … and the other issue that we're focussing on is quality and having good quality child care spaces," said Charlene Johnson.

"It's really about having that choice for parents. That's why we want to have a combination of child care centres and family child care."

Johnson said that although the national report holds Quebec as the gold standard in early childhood education with daycare costing only $7 a day, the province isn't interested in matching that number.

The 10 year childcare strategy is slated to be released next year.