Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Long term planning/investment needed for vulnerable children
23 August 2012
Long term planning and investment needed for vulnerable children
NZEI Te Riu Roa says it welcomes the Government’s acknowledgement that it needs to provide better intervention for young vulnerable children.
NZEI early childhood education spokesperson, Judith Nowotarski says young vulnerable children, especially those from families who are suffering from financial strain, are often the biggest victims of government policy and cost-cutting decisions.
“Early intervention to provide vulnerable children with a fair chance of success needs long term solutions and investment, and cross-political party support.”
She says it is a great pity that previous attempts to do this have been thwarted by short term expedient decisions by Government.
She says that if the Government is serious about targeting vulnerable children it will need to commit to long term planning and substantial and ongoing investment.
The Government abandoned an earlier plan, Pathways to the Future: Ngā Huarahi Arataki - A 10-Year Early Childhood Education Strategic Plan (2002 – 2012) with four years left to go, leading to the erosion of quality education for our youngest children.
“Another successful initiative which was ignored, even when proved to be successful, was the pilot “Parent Support and Development” (PSD) project. This provided community hubs for families and strengthened connections between education, health and welfare services for families.”
The Minister of Education’s ECE Taskforce Report last year made recommendations around integrated support services across health, welfare and education which supports the same ideas as the PSD project.
Judith Nowotarski says although we have gone backwards in recent years she is hopeful that the Government White Paper for Vulnerable Children due to be released in October will provide a way forward, at least in part.
A commitment to 100 percent qualified teachers in early childhood education centres is shown to be one of the most important factors for quality early childhood education.
She says early childhood education centres are the logical hub for setting up integrated services because they are places where parents have built trusting relationships and where they feel most supported and comfortable.
ENDS
NZEI Te Riu Roa
New Zealand Educational Institute
NZEI Te Riu Roa members work in every community in New Zealand, leading and advocating for quality public education.
We are the 50,000 principals, teachers and support staff who work in primary, area and secondary schools as well as early childhood centres, special education and school advisory services. We come together as NZEI Te Riu Roa - New Zealand's largest education union, a Treaty based organisation and a powerful advocate for quality public education.
We have the most important job in New Zealand - educating for the future.
Gordon Campbell: On bird flu, AUKUS entry fees and Cindy Lee
NZ Government: New Lab To Help Protect Key Pacific Tuna Fisheries
Susan Botting - Local Democracy Reporter: Ruawai Leader Slams Kaipara Council In Battle Over $400k Property
Te Pati Maori: Another ‘Stolen Generation’ Enabled By Court Ruling On Waitangi Tribunal Summons
Peace Action Wellington: Die In for Palestine Marks ANZAC day
Labour Party: Penny Drops – But What About Seymour And Peters?
Government: PM Announces Changes To Portfolios
