EDMONTON- Alberta's budget woes have delayed the province's plan to implement and fund full-day kindergarten in Alberta schools.
Last year, the government said it wanted to start rolling out the program this fall, at a cost of approximately $200 million. It was also one of Premier Alison Redford's election promises.
But, with warnings from the Premier of a tough budget ahead, when the program may be implemented and how much it will cost is now up in the air.
"We absolutely support full day (kindergarten). We want to roll it out. We're not exactly sure how it's going to look or how much it's going to cost," Education Minister Jeff Johnson said in a conference call with Alberta teachers earlier this week. "The timelines and the budget for that are, at this point, uncertain."
Critics say the delay means students will be the ones who suffer.
"Kids who are entering kindergarten or soon to be entering kindergarten don't care what the price differential is on a barrel of oil. They need to be educated," said Liberal Education Critic Kent Hehr.
Full-day kindergarten is currently offered in 23 schools in both the Edmonton Public and Catholic School Districts. The cost is covered by the board.
"We see it as being a strong advantage for those students who are disadvantaged," said Tanni Parker, the Assistant Superintendent of Student Learning Services with the Edmonton Public School Board. "What we're seeing is that it provides a very strong literacy play-based program that allows them to catch up and be where their peers are when they get into grade one and grade two."
In Drayton Valley there are currently 117 children enrolled in full-day kindergarten in both STAR Catholic Schools and Wild Rose Public Schools. That's compared to the 365 children enrolled in half-day programs. However, parents with children in the full-day program will pay a fee of $250 per month starting in the fall, to help cover the cost.
School boards had hoped the cost of full-day kindergarten programs would be taken over by the province this fall.
"We were looking forward to a positive announcement and we'll continue to program the way we're programming now," said Parker.
Johnson says the government is committed to its promise of full-day kindergarten. He says details on the budget and timeline will be solidified in the coming months. Much of those details will depend on the March 7 budget.
With files from Kendra Slugoski, Global News.
© Global News. A division of Shaw Media Inc., 2013.