Funding Cuts Take Effect

News Release 31 January 2011

Funding Cuts Take Effect

Millions of dollars will be slashed from kindergarten budgets as the Government’s funding cuts come into effect. “Kindergarten funding drops by 14 percent – around $35,000 per kindergarten each year” said Clare Wells, Chief Executive, New Zealand Kindergartens (NZK). “Further cuts happen in July when the Government takes away the funding to support newly qualified teachers to become fully registered teachers. That’s another million dollars” said Clare Wells.

“The cuts strike at the professionalism of the early childhood education (ECE) sector. The Government has lowered standards for ECE at the same time as it wants to improve participation in the sector and to raise the bar on education achievement. It simply doesn’t make sense,” stated Clare Wells. “Until today, services with more than 80% qualified teachers could access higher funding rates in recognition of the cost to services, of employing trained teachers. By scrapping these higher rates, the Government is not only reducing funding but also saying that 100% qualified teachers do not matter if the child is under five years old“ said Clare Wells.

The Government has said there is no evidence to show that having 100% qualified teachers makes a greater difference to the outcomes for children. Why then, do we have 100% qualified and registered teachers in schools? The Minister of Education’s advisory group set up to consider future policy settings around the teaching workforce stated in its report last year that ‘… effective teaching is recognised as the most important lever for improving educational outcomes for students.’ Why would the Government want to deny that opportunity to some children just because they have yet to start school?

Kindergartens in the NZK network are committed to employing 100% qualified and registered teachers and to providing high quality education for young children.

“At the end of the day, kindergarten is about the quality of the programmes available to children and families. We are totally committed to 100% qualified teachers in kindergarten. We have called on the Government to reinstate the target for 100% qualified teachers in all ECE centres and to reinstate the funding to support that aim.” Clare Wells said.

ENDS

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