Educators, advocates and parents who may be impacted by the possible closure of StrongStart gathered to voice their support for the early education program Monday (April 8) in Surrey.
StrongStart is a service available throughout B.C. that is at risk of closure in Surrey, due to what the district says is a lack of increase in funding over the years. Available to children from birth to five years old, it is a free precursor to kindergarten that is running at 25 schools in Surrey.
RELATED: Surrey’s inner-city families worried about possible StrongStart closure
“If you look at the map of where StrongStart programs are in our district, it is clear that this is an equity issue,” Anne Whitmore, acting president of the district parent advisory committee (DPAC), said at a press conference at the Surrey Teachers’ Association building on Monday.
“The areas that have the most StrongStart programs are the areas with the greatest need – areas where families do not have the access or the funds to a preschool program based in their community.”
Funding for StrongStart has not increased since 2008, Whitmore continued.
“What politician do you know who hasn’t had a raise since 2008? We all know inflation, the cost of running the program, the salaries, the administration of the program have all increased.”
Along with a representative from DiverseCity, BCEDAccess, StrongStart employee union, Surrey Teachers’ union and families who may be impacted, Whitmore says the goal is to call on the provincial government to increase funding for the program to remain.
More than 3,000 families are enrolled in Surrey’s StrongStart program, Whitmore said.
Two parents have also started an online petition to prevent the closure of StrongStart. Peter Shen and Grace Xie, two Surrey parents to three children, according to the change.org petition they started, say their family benefited greatly from the “invaluable” program.
As of Monday afternoon, the petition had surpassed its initial 1,500 signature goal, with a secondary 2,500 goal now set.
Father Sandeep Attri, a newcomer to Canada, said that StrongStart has greatly impacted his family’s life. His youngest daughter has been in the program since last year, allowing Attri and his wife to notice stark differences between his youngest and eldest’s learning development.
“The things my other daughter didn’t know at four, she knows at two-and-a-half only. She speaks the English language… we don’t speak that language at home either, we use our mother tongue,” he explained.
“My wife and me, we are new here, we don’t know anybody, but my wife knows the people there (at StrongStart) now, they talk to each other.”
RELATED: Program for children 5 and younger at risk of closure in Surrey Schools
Another father, Ravi Mangat, said that StrongStart has been a great experience for his daughter as well.
“She was born during the pandemic, but you can see she’s more open now, she’s more willing to go to others and play with others and her social skills are developing,” Mangat said, adding that preschool as a replacement is not affordable for his family.
In response to the press conference, Education Minister Rachna Singh released a statement via email.
“In recent weeks, I have witnessed an inaccurate notion be amplified: that provincial funding for the StrongStart BC program in Surrey is being cut. I want to reassure people in Surrey that this is not true. It’s important I set the record straight and make clear that funding from the Province for StrongStart BC is fully intact and has not received funding cuts,” the statement reads.
Singh goes on to say the decision to cut the program altogether or significantly reduce it is the school board’s, not the provincial government’s.
“To be clear, Surrey receives $736,000 per year to operate 23 centres, specifically for the purposes of StrongStart BC operations. This funding must be used for StrongStart BC operation and is calculated based on the operation of 23 centres, not more or less… I will continue to urge the Surrey School District and the board to keep the StrongStart BC program active within their district, and I look forward to my meeting with SD36 this week to have this important discussion.”