Kindergarten teachers meet over funding stalemate

Kindergarten teachers meet over funding stalemate

Kindergarten teachers around the country are meeting this week to discuss what action to take over the government’s continued cuts to kindergarten teacher funding.

NZEI Te Riu Roa National President Judith Nowotarski says kindergartens have been struggling to maintain quality teaching in the face of a 14 per cent drop in funding – or $35,000 per kindergarten - which has resulted in increased costs to parents.

Negotiations between NZEI and the Ministry of Education have stalled after the government refused to move on kindergarten teachers’ key concerns about recognition of head teachers and maintaining pay parity with primary teachers.

Education Minister Hekia Parata frequently speaks about how quality teaching and quality leadership boost children’s learning success and wrote just this month that, “Evidence is clear that the quality of teaching and school (and centre) leadership have the biggest in- school effect in raising student achievement to improve educational success.  Similarly, qualified teachers are a key factor in providing quality early childhood education that has a positive impact on learner outcomes.”

However, the government has ironically reversed an earlier goal of ensuring that all kindergartens and ECE centres be staffed by fully qualified teachers. It will now only fund for 80 per cent of teachers to be fully qualified at any kindergarten or centre.

The government is also refusing to properly recognise the value of head teachers, who are each responsible for running an entire centre, but earn just $2000 a year more than other kindergarten teachers.

“Many kindergartens are finding it increasingly difficult to maintain their commitment to employing 100 per cent fully qualified teachers, and the poor recognition for head teacher roles makes it difficult to attract, resource and retain great leaders,” said Mrs Nowotarski.

NOTE to editors – view the schedule of paid union meetings http://www.nzei.org.nz/documents/meetings/KndgrtnPUMs20131030.pdf

ENDS

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