MEDIA RELEASE

March 11  2008

Wintec Bachelor Of Teaching Early Childhood Education Approved

Wintec’s new Bachelor of Teaching better meets the needs of the institute’s Early Childhood students, says Wintec School of Education Head, Paula Jackson.  

Minister of Education has granted Wintec an exemption to the initial teacher education moratorium on Early Childhood Education degrees allowing the institute to  develop the Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education)  following an accreditation process.

“Students will be able to enrol in the degree directly or transition from Wintec’s Diploma in Teaching with transition arrangements will form part of the accreditation process Jackson said.

“This puts us in an excellent position to respond to the needs of the Early Childhood sector and will help boost our reputation for providing quality early childhood education in the Waikato region.”

The Minister of Education had granted Wintec an exemption to the initial teacher education moratorium on Early Childhood Education degrees enabling the institute to develop the Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) . Following the approval and accreditation process  students would  enrol in the degree directly or transition from the  Diploma in Teaching. Clearly transition arrangements  would form part of the accreditation process.

“This puts us in an excellent position to respond to the needs of the Early Childhood sector and will help boost our reputation for providing quality early childhood education in the Waikato region,” she said

Jackson said an undergraduate degree also provides a pathway for early childhood teachers into post-graduate study.

“Many of our students are mature women who have the multiple responsibilities of being an income earner, parent and student.  The field-based Bachelor of Teaching (ECE) degree will offer  the opportunity to gain an undergraduate qualification in a way that still allows them to meet their multiple responsibilities.”

 ENDS