Labour's Early Education Policy Set To Disappoint
Tuesday, 12 October 1999, 2:19 pm
Press Release: New Zealand Government
Education Minister Nick Smith says that Labour's Early
Childhood Education Policy would slow growth in the
sector and that the funding provided is miles away from the
promises they had to go with it.
"Labour's promise of
an extra $68 million over three years amounts to an
increase of $23 million per year. This 7% increase is
less than a quarter of the increase that's been provided
by National, not just over the last three years but over
the last decade. There is no way Labour can deliver
increased funding for rural early childhood centres,
centres for Pacific Island children and centres for Maori
children and reduce staff:child ratios with this sort of
funding. It also shows Labour's commitment to pay
parity with the primary sector is just weasel words. This
policy alone will cost $140 million per year, not the $23
million that Labour's prepared to spend."
"Consistent
with other policy releases, Labour has not done its
homework properly and is promising things way beyond its
ability to pay for them."
ENDS
© Scoop Media
Join Scoop Citizen
Scoop is a champion of independent journalism and open publishing - informing New Zealanders through straight-talking independent journalism, and publishing news from a wide range of sectors. Join us and support the publication of trustworthy, relevant, public interest news, freely accessible to all New Zealanders:
Become a member
Find out more
One feels reluctant to pre-empt the verdict of history, but maybe we need to have a Plan B in mind just in case the reign of King Charles III turns out badly. With that possibility in mind, are there any other countries that do a reasonably good job of electing their ceremonial head of state? There is no perfect model for New Zealand to follow but - arguably - Ireland has made a pretty good fist of it over the past 70 years or so. Ireland has roughly the same population as New Zealand, so the pool of talent is similar in size...
More>>
Mystery Document Alleges:
Covert Operation has US/Egypt Support
Operations Coordinated between South Sudan, TPLF and Uganda
Planning began December 2021...More>>