Key Fails to Understand own Early Childhood Education Cuts
Prime Minister fails to understand his own Early Childhood Education cuts
15 December 2010
Prime Minister John Key showed his disregard for families who face early childhood education fee increases of up to $80 per child per week in February, says Labour Spokesperson for ECE, Sue Moroney.
“John Key tried to deny the funding cuts were taking place, when questioned in Parliament today, but couldn’t explain why his Minister of Education has written to Matua Plunket Kindergarten suggesting they add a new fee to 20 hours ECE to make up for the funding cut,” said Sue Moroney.
“The Prime Minister then moved to block an email sent to him from Matua Plunket Kindergarten being tabled in Parliament, along with Minister Anne Tolley’s reply to them.
“The Prime Minister must be embarrassed about the promises he has broken on early childhood education, but he needs to front up to the families who face the funding cuts which he agreed to so he could give tax cuts to the wealthy.”
“John Key also refuted that his funding cuts affected 93,000 families even though that is the number of children the Ministry of Education said were enrolled in centres affected by the cuts when they were announced in May,” Sue Moroney said.
“Did the Ministry get it wrong, or is the Prime Minister making it up or has John Key been told there are more than 93,000 families being affected?”
ENDS