Finding Designated Early Childhood Educators is a challenge for recruiters to find at the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka office in Parry Sound.
Chrissy McDonald, Community Manager with the YMCA said that recruiting DECE’s was less difficult before it was ruled in the Education Act that registered early childhood educators would be present in full-day kindergarten classrooms as of September 2014.Â
DECE’s are trained to work with youth aged zero to six-years-old.
“Since that curriculum has changed, that’s where it was a tough hit for childcare. You had childcare that was open for most of the whole year and then you have an opportunity to work in a school and have short days and holidays and summers off, ” McDonald said. “Working in different conditions appear less attractive but it depends what sector you’re working under.”
The YMCA is a not-for-profit organization and a charitable organization. In comparison to the school boards, YMCA ECE’s earn about three to four dollars less an hour than what the school board pays according to McDonald.
McDonald said that the Ministry of Education is aware of the challenges the YMCA is facing in finding qualified staff for their programs and she says they have agreed to discuss alternative solutions. A meeting date was not been confirmed.
“They have helped us out in that matter, but we tend to get a director-approved child and youth workers, fitness, rec and leisure staff and qualified teachers, so we do have other options to reach out to for applicants, but I would like it if the ministry opened it up a bit more so we have more to pull from,” McDonald said.
The YMCA is currently recruiting Registered Early Childhood Educators. Applicants can get in touch with their office here.