Early childhood education could suffer in Christchurch

14 September
Immediate Release

Early childhood education could suffer in Christchurch revamp

The Government has not thought through the effect of the Christchurch education renewal programme on early childhood education, says senior teacher of Kaiapoi’s Karanga Mai Early Childhood Centre Laura Dunlop.

The Government’s plans for the future of primary education in Christchurch are far more wide-reaching than what had been previously indicated and will affect the early childhood education centres that feed into the primary schools which now may no longer exist.

Laura Dunlop says this will affect attendance in early childhood education, one of the areas that the Government has targeted as a priority.

“We know that location affects children’s participation in early childhood education. There are families who have no transport and have enough to deal with as it is. Are we expecting them to travel with small children to a centre further away?

Laura Dunlop says the Government has not thought it through and there appears to be no plan for early childhood education.

“On the one hand they are saying they want all children aged 3 years and upwards to attend 15 hours compulsory early childhood education and yet they are making it more difficult for people in Christchurch to do that.”

She says it is important for young children to not have to travel far to go to their centre, to stay in their local community and to be in a safe environment that they know.

© Scoop Media