20 hours free Early Childhood Education for the chop

Families should be worried by moves by the National Government that could see costs of early childhood education shifted on to parents, Labour’s Early Childhood Education spokesperson Sue Moroney says.

“National has deliberately dropped the word 'free' from Labour's 20 hours free early childhood education for 3 and 4 year olds. They have been preparing the ground from day one to increase the costs to families,’ Sue Moroney said.

“Treasury has advised Education Minister Anne Tolley to increase class sizes, pay teachers based on performance and increase charges for parents who have enrolled their children in Early Childhood Education.

“The fact that Education Minister Anne Tolley has not ruled out following this advice should send alarm bells ringing for parents.

“Families are already struggling under increased financial pressure and increasing costs of Early Childhood Education may mean that parents simply do not enrol their children in their important aspect of education.

“National has said they want increased participation in Early Child Education yet they have done nothing that would encourage more parents to enrol their children.

“Anne Tolley recently told media that she was qualified to be Education Minister because she was a mother. But I doubt there will be many mothers who will support moves to increase costs of early education,” Sue Moroney said.

ENDS

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