Paula Bennett
MP National Party Associate Education Spokeswoman (Early Childhood)

30 March 2007

'20 free' survey exposes flawed policy

A new survey by the Early Childhood Council exposes Labour's '20 free hours' as a flawed policy that education providers simply cannot deliver, says National's Associate Education spokeswoman, Paula Bennett.

The survey results show 23% of ECC members will not be opting into '20 free hours', and 46% of members remain undecided with just three months until roll out.

"The Early Childhood Council represents the largest group of early childhood education providers in the country, so this survey must be a bitter blow to Steve Maharey's election promise.

"What more evidence does he need to prove this policy is totally flawed? It was never going to work as long as he used a blanket policy to target the 3-and-4-year-olds that were not already engaged in ECE.

"This survey shows that the very areas in need of increased uptake in ECE are most likely to miss out, with only 11% of centres in Greater Auckland opting in, 28% in Greater Wellington and 18% in Christchurch.

"The policy is going to create a two-tier sector where centres that feel obliged to offer '20 free hours' to expectant parents are forced to cut costs and lower the quality of their service.

"Parents are missing out on what they were promised and despite desperate pleas from the sector, Steve Maharey continues to ignore everyone's concerns.

"What will it take for him to wake up and realise what every New Zealand parent and early childhood provider already knows - this policy won't work.

"'20 free hours' was an election promise that has turned horribly wrong for this Labour Government.

"It's time Steve Maharey admitted defeat and took this shoddy policy back to the drawing board."

ENDS

© Scoop Media