Camosun College will be able to prepare more students to care for young children starting this year.
The Greater Victoria college received provincial funding for 24 additional early childhood education student spaces as of January.
Early childhood educators work with children ranging from newborns to those around the age of five. The province put $1.32 million toward adding 147 student seats at post-secondary schools across B.C. this year.
The expanded seats include full- and part-time studies and online learning, along with speciality programs for Indigenous community-based delivery, infant and toddler, and special needs individuals.
Rising child care costs and lack of availability have been barriers for parents and caregivers, said B.C. Minister of State for Child Care Katrina Chen in a news release. Expanding the number of training spaces for early childhood educators will support giving children a strong start and ensuring child care is available for all families, she added.
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