Over the next two years, nearly $35 million will be invested to continue tuition-free early childhood educator (ECE) training, professional development, and student financial support.
Up to $16.5 million in the 2024-25 academic year and up to $18.4 million in the 2025-26 academic year will be allocated to support ECE skills and knowledge through the Canada-Saskatchewan Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement.
The funding will create more than 4,000 tuition-free training seats over two years. This will allow current and future educators to advance or begin their careers in early childhood education and obtain their ECE Certification Level I, II, or III. The investment also supports more than 5,300 professional development seats, helping educators gain the knowledge needed to excel in their roles.
"We are responding to the needs of the early years sector with tangible actions that allow us to continue recruiting and retaining certified early childhood educators," Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill said. "Trained early childhood educators play an important role in providing high-quality early learning and child care programs in our province."
"To make $10-a-day child care a reality for families in Saskatchewan, we need to retain and recruit more early childhood educators," Canada's Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, Jenna Sudds, said. "By offering tuition-free opportunities for thousands of current educators, we are empowering them to enhance their skills through training and professional development. At the same time, we are opening the door for new educators to discover this important career."
From fall 2024 to spring 2026, 10 post-secondary institutions across the province will provide the free ECE training and professional development, including Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies, College Mathieu, Dumont Technical Institute, and six regional colleges—Carlton Trail, Great Plains, North West, Northlands, Southeast, and Suncrest.
There has been a 15 per cent increase in the number of certified ECEs in the province since March 2021, including a 30 per cent increase in ECE Level III educators, who work as leaders to support developmentally appropriate programs for the children in their care.
Nearly $83 million has been invested to date to support the recruitment and retention of ECEs in Saskatchewan. This funding includes wage enhancements, tuition-free post-secondary education, and financial support to help individuals pursue training.
Training and professional development opportunities range from ECE certificate and diploma courses leading to an ECE certification level, advanced certificates in early childhood education, and microcredentials to build skills in specific areas. In addition to full-time study options, a wide range of accelerated, evening, online, and part-time options are available.