Playcentre sends out an SOS

Playcentre sends out an SOS

We urgently need the media’s help to inform all past and present Playcentre members about the recommendation by the government's ECE Taskforce that could see an end to a unique Kiwi institution.

“I feel that it is something this country should be very proud of.” says Jacqui Callaghan, President of Te Akoranga Playcentre Association. She goes on to say that “The government are asking us to respond by submitting a response to the report. If we can get all members, past and present to submit one, that would be incredible”.

The consultation process around the recommendations concludes on 8 August. The Taskforce report can be found on: http://www.taskforce.ece.govt.nz/. Information on the consultation process and a link to the survey can be obtained on the Ministry of Education website: http://www.lead.ece.govt.nz/ManagementInformation/RecentAnnouncements/ConsultationECETaskforce.aspx

Emma Jane Hordyk, the previous Media Officer for the New Zealand Playcentre Federation, is horrified. “As an immigrant from the UK, I have never seen anything like Playcentre in existence. Not only does it provide quality education to pre-school children, it educates the parent. That parent has a much easier transition back to the workforce and takes some much-needed co-operative training into the wider community.” She adds, “Through the volunteer work for my Centre, Regional Association and the National Federation I feel confident and ready to now launch my own business”.

Te Akoranga Playcentre Association will be joining forces with three other regions (North Shore, Auckland and Tamaki) on Monday 8th August at the Aotea Centre BNZ Foyer, 50 Mayoral Drive, (or Across Aotea Square) 9.30am – 11.30pm. Not as a ‘protest’ but part of a National Day of Celebration of Playcentre.

Playcentres provide early childhood education to children aged from birth to six, and are run co-operatively by trained parents who participate in an NZQA-approved adult education programme. Playcentres have been operating for 70 years, and their high quality outcomes for children and parents have been repeatedly demonstrated by research and the Education Review Office.

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