Hon Bill English National Education Spokesman

23 November 2004

New funding pays for Mallard’s prejudice

“If Labour was serious about meeting the childcare needs of parents and the community he would give every child the same childcare entitlement and would let parents continue to choose care that suits them,” says National’s Education spokesman, Bill English.

He is commenting on the announcement of a new funding pool that will provide additional places for under-fives in non-profit early childcare.

Mr English says this new funding is only necessary because of the Minister’s prejudice against privately owned and parent-led centres.

“This funding is all about making parents work to the Minister’s preferences about childcare,” he says.

“The money won’t deal with the immediate problem that up to 400 childcare centres are set to close on 1 January next year when stringent new teacher registration requirements come into play.

“The Ministry of Education has advised the Minister of these eminent closures but he has turned a blind eye.

“Private childcare centres are successful because they meet the needs of parents whose decisions are based on hours of operation, ease of access and style of teaching. Parents are not interested in whether or not the centre fits in with Labour’s politically-correct views on who should look after their children.

“These closures will spell chaos for the 30,000 families who will find themselves without childcare in the new year,” says Mr English.

ENDS

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