Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

NZ Kindergarten on Treasury's ECE Recommendations

3 February 2012

New Zealand Kindergarten (NZK) Response to Treasury Briefing Recommendations for Early Childhood Education

New Zealand Kindergartens (NZK) warns that targeting early childhood education (ECE) funding in place of supporting universal access could mean many children and families fall through the cracks.

“The benefits of high quality ECE extend all the way up the income ladder and for all socio-economic groups. Purely targeting funding to early childhood education services will have limited success reaching target populations and is administratively expensive,” said Clare Wells, NZK Chief Executive.

Research evidence shows that the economic benefits of early childhood education are maximised by universal provision.

The Early Childhood Education Taskforce’s recent report, An Agenda for Amazing Children, concludes that “…investing in early childhood education can be thought of as one of the most effective uses of taxpayer funds.”

“Our current system is a universal model with funding going to ECE services. In addition to that, extra funding goes to support particular communities including low socio-economic communities,” Clare Wells said.

The ECE funding system allows all 3, 4 and 5 year old children and families to access 20 free hours of early childhood education. From 2006-2010, there was a 16.8% increase in Māori children enrolled in ECE services and a 24.9% increase in Pasifika children.

“New Zealand has a world-class education system,” said Clare Wells. “Our early childhood education services are an integral part of it and should be accessible to all children - just like primary and secondary school.”

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

The government has set a target of 98% of new entrants in schools participating in ECE by 2015. NZK believes it is essential that the government support universal access to ECE in order to reach this goal.

“The best way to increase participation rates and maximise the benefits of participation in early childhood education among low-income, Māori and Pasifika children is to provide the resources and support for services to offer high quality education, be innovative, culturally relevant and partner with those communities, “ said Clare Wells.

BACKGROUND

New Zealand Kindergartens (NZK) Incorporated, Te Putahi Kura Puhou o Aotearoa, is the umbrella organisation representing twenty-nine regional kindergarten associations covering over 430 kindergartens and early childhood education (ECE) services. Nationally kindergartens provide services for 37,600 enrolled children as well as support for their families and whānau. Over one-third of all four year olds enrolled in ECE in New Zealand attend a kindergarten. Almost 20% of Māori children enrolled in ECE attend kindergarten.

Children who attend high-quality early childhood education are better prepared for school, are more likely to stay in school longer and to succeed in school. New Zealand research has found effects of quality ECE remain evident at age 16 years.

“We found that high-quality centres had a positive, long-lasting association with student’s literacy, numeracy and logical problem solving competencies, and also with their social skills.”

International research had found similarly remarkable benefits of early childhood education.

“Students who had learned much more in kindergarten were more likely to go to college than students with otherwise similar backgrounds. Students who learned more were also less likely to become single parents. As adults, they were more likely to be saving for retirement. Perhaps most striking, they were earning more.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.