Aboriginal Early Childhood Education (Merritt only) Department

Department Coordinator

Denyse Oswald-Finch, ECED, BACYC

Faculty

Nedra McKay

Denyse Oswald-Finch

Programs in this Department

Aboriginal Early Childhood Education Certificate

Aboriginal Early Childhood Education Diploma

The Aboriginal Early Childhood Education program is designed to meet provincial licensing standards, academic standards, community and First Nations standards to ensure NVIT graduates are successful, effective child development workers in BC communities.

The program is unique in that it emphasizes the knowledge, skills and standards relevant to both Aboriginal and mainstream individuals, families and communities. Early Childhood Education is a rapidly expanding field with a high need for qualified and certified childcare workers, particularly in Aboriginal communities. The program also includes First Aid certification as part of the program included in the Health, Nutrition and Safety Course (AECE 150).

The AECE program is an exciting and progressive program with a focus on Aboriginal content in the curriculum. Admission is open to all learners, particularly those wishing to explore and experience Early Childhood Education from an Aboriginal perspective. The program is designed to run 10.5 months from the beginning of September to the middle of July.

*Note that practicum placement will be scheduled throughout the Nicola Valley and Thompson Areas.

Licensing

The Aboriginal Early Childhood Education Certificate is approved by the Ministry of Children and Family Developmentand the Early Childhood Educator Registry. Successful completion of the program will allow graduates to work with children 0 to 12 as well as supervise children up to a private kindergarten level.

Graduates of the Aboriginal Early Childhood Education program will be prepared for employment in many different career areas:

Day-care centres; and

Family and group facilities;

Pre-schools;

Special needs centres;

Under-3 centres;

Nursery schools;

Private kindergartens;

Suprevisory roles;

Other childcare facilities.

Aboriginal Early Childhood Education Certificate

Admission Requirements

Grade 12 Diploma or Mature status (19 years of age)

English 12 or ENGL 060*;

40 hours of Volunteer and/or work experience with 20 hours being in a licensed group, pre-school or childcare facility and under the supervision of a qualified Early Childhood Educator and the remaining 20 hours being in a private setting (sports camp, babysitting, daycamp, etc.) working with children from the ages of 3-12;

Medical Reference form for AECE (available from NVIT);

Immunization Record form for AECE (available from NVIT);

A professional letter of reference from an individual working in the childcare or education field.

*Applicants may be admitted with English 11 or 050 but will be required to take ENGL 060 as part of their program.

All applicants must attend an interview with program personnel in August preceding the start of the program.
All admitted students will be required to obtain a current clear Criminal Record Check from the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General. Refer to the Ministry website for details on this process:

http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/criminal-records-review/
All accepted students will complete an application for a Criminal Record Consent (Schedule F) on their first day of classes. The results of this check must be forwarded to the AECE Program Coordinator for retention and presentation to practicum facilities.

An Aboriginal Early Childhood Education (AECE) Certificate is awarded upon the successful completion of the equivalent of one year of full-time study with the option of continuing on to the second year diploma. The AECE certificate requires 48 credits as prescribed below. An overall GPA of 2.33 is required.

For more information, contact Denyse Oswald-Finch 250.378.3311 or doswaldfinch@nvit.bc.ca

Click this link to see a listing of all courses in this department

For information on transferability, please see the BC Council on Admissions and Transferability