Paula Bennett MP
National Party Associate Education Spokeswoman

7 May 2007

Kindy fees skyrocket - Will you listen now, Minister?

The first proof that the Government’s ’20 hours free’ policy will hit parents squarely in the pocket or drive early childhood education centres (ECE) to the wall has arrived, says National’s Associate Education spokeswoman, Paula Bennett.

“The Southland Kindergarten Association has circulated a letter to parents telling them all Southland kindergartens will increase their hourly rate from an average of 50 cents to $4.

“This means parents are facing a fee rise from around $100 a child to $800 a child per term.

“And this is just the beginning. I know, anecdotally, of many other centres that must do the same or face extinction because this Government has simply not listened to the sector.

“Even worse, the Southland Kindergarten Association has warned parents that, even if they don’t want to take up the ’20 hours free’ option, they will stay have to pay the increased hourly rate to enable all the Association’s kindergartens to stay viable.

“We have been telling the Minister that this is the reality of his flawed policy for months. Will he finally listen?

“Parents and centres were very enthusiastic about getting 20 free hours when the Government announced the scheme; however they are now learning a hard lesson about what the Government means by ‘free’

“For Southland parents it is a leap in their toddlers’ education costs from around $100 a term to $100 a week.”

ENDS

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