Put Pupils Before Profits,

February 2, 2007

From NZEI Te Riu Roa

Put Pupils Before Profits, says Early Childhood Teachers’ Union

The government needs time to work through the new 20 hours’ free policy and should not be pressured to put profits in private shareholders’ pockets, says NZEI Te Riu Roa, the union representing early childhood teachers.

Sue Thorne, of the Early Childhood Council, has been outspoken about the need for higher funding rates for the Government’s 20 hours’ free early childhood education policy.

“Ms Thorne represents mostly for-profit centres, many of which are owned by Australian shareholders. By implying that her survey – sent only to Early Childhood Council members – is representative of the entire sector, including not-for-profit and community-owned centres, she is warping the debate,” says Irene Cooper, National President of NZEI Te Riu Roa.

“As teachers, we fully understand the need for centres to have enough money to run a quality programme,” says Irene Cooper. “However, the focus should be on that word quality.”

A substantial part of the government’s plan to provide 20 free hours of early childhood education to all 3 and 4 year olds from July this year is to give higher funding to centres with qualified and registered teachers.

“Higher funding levels will encourage more centres to employ qualified, registered teachers, whom studies have shown provide the best quality for children’s education,” says Irene Cooper.

“Education Minister Steve Maharey should make no apologies for putting increased tax-payer funding towards educational quality.

If there are increases to the overall funding levels, we hope the teacher-led incentive will remain, and that the Minister will not cowtow to the private sector by allowing them to hire cheaper, less qualified teachers and put the difference towards boosting their profit margins,” says Irene Cooper

“Any policy takes time to bed in, and NZEI plans to work with the government in the coming months to ensure that the 20 hours’ free policy works for all New Zealand children.”

“If providers of early childhood education are going to put their profits first, perhaps this is a good time to raise the debate of whether the Government should start providing public early childhood education in the same way it does for the school sector,” says Irene Cooper

ENDS