Preschoolers shine in troubled neighbourhood
October 31, 2008
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Shabnam Janet Janani
STAFF REPORTER
Though they face greater social and economic risks than kids in other communities, the percentage of Malton children deemed ready for kindergarten is equal to that of more privileged areas across Peel Region.
Why?
A new study shows that preschool development in this sometimes troubled neighbourhood remains steady, although the risk factors have increased by 10 per cent in the past five years.
The study is part of a federal government support project called Understanding the Early Years, launched in 16 high-risk communities nationwide, including Malton, last February. The local study found that Malton is one of the most challenged areas in the GTA.
"Malton is a community with a high level of social risk, with increasing vulnerability and poverty," explains project co-ordinator Sumbal Malik. "Many families have just moved to Canada and they are in a state of transition, learning and settling in. Low employment and low family income are just a couple of factors that increase a community's vulnerability. These factors subsequently impact the quality of life of children in their early years."
Yet Malton kindergarteners are slightly more likely to be ready for school – by about 1 per cent – than children in Mississauga overall.
"Social cohesion in Malton is one of the main reasons why our kids are doing well," said Sylvia Link, communications manager at the Peel District School Board. "There is a sense of community and identity."
With the unemployment rate at 8 per cent, more Malton kids are living in poverty today than in 2001. The average household income is about $65,000, compared with $88,000 for Mississauga overall. A quarter of adults in Malton do not have a high school diploma.
Children for whom English is a second language constitute 57 per cent of the school population, compared with 31 per cent in Mississauga overall and just 29 per cent across Peel.
Alison Robinson, a teacher in Malton for 13 years, believes various programs offered by the Peel board for the community provide immense benefits to these children.
Robinson said the Ridgewood Readiness Centre and the Early Years Hub at Lancaster Junior Public School help parents find resources in the community.
The study assumes that a high proportion of recent immigrants increases social risk, but Jatinder Grewal, chairperson of the community leadership group that guides the Understanding the Early Years project in Malton, thinks diversity also plays a role in stability.
"We have a unique mix of individuals in Malton. The high immigrant populations place more emphasis on the value of education for their children," Grewal said.
Despite hopeful signs in education, Malton residents are concerned about their children's future. "The community needs more support," Link said.
Understanding the Early Years Malton is funded by Human Resources Canada and supported by the Peel District School Board.
Toronto Star