22 October 2008

More community input into preschools needed: Greens

Green Party Education Spokesperson Metiria Turei welcomes Government funding of $9 million over two years to develop nine new early childhood education services on existing school sites in south Auckland, but calls for more grassroots community involvement rather than the state subsidising overseas-owned education franchises.

"It's a good thing to put money into early childhood education - but the problem is there's a proliferation of private chain stores for early childhood education subsidised with public money.

"The Green Party wants to see a shift to the community sector. Until we find a mechanism to address the flow of public money into the private sector, that community sector is always going to suffer."

Mrs Turei says the number one issue in the early childhood education sector is funnelling money offshore to internationally-owned companies.

"The priority for taxpayer money must be in community based, not-for-profit early childhood education, rather than boosting the profits of private companies."

ENDS

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