17 December 2010

Media Statement

Pacific enrolments in ECE indictment of John Key

The fact that only 29.9 percent of Pacific Island children are attending formal Early Childhood Education and care is an indictment of the John Key National Government, says Labour’s Pacific Island Affairs spokesperson Su’a William Sio.

Su’a William Sio said the New Zealand Childcare Survey 2009, released today, showed the Pacific figure compared with 56.2 percent for all other children.

“This shows clearly that National is not investing in a significant sector of New Zealand society --- the one with the highest population of young people, especially in the Auckland region.

“With significant cuts in ECE funding and with the Education Minister set determinedly on lowering the level of teacher quality from 100 to 80 percent, effectively dumbing down the ECE teacher profession, it’s no wonder many parents are choosing more informal training and care options for their toddlers,” Su’a William Sio said.

“If this John Key-led government continues to dumb down the education of future generations and doesn’t invest in our future leaders, imagine the kinds of problems we will have to deal with in years ahead.

“By the time National is voted out next year, inequality will have deteriorated again to reach pre-1999 levels.”

ENDS

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