Early Childhood Taskforce Must Do the Right Thing by Children

The education sector union NZEI Te Riu Roa hopes the Government’s Early Childhood Taskforce will do the right thing by children by recommending more investment in quality early childhood education and a reversal of damaging funding cuts.

The Taskforce was set up by the Government to advise on value for money in early childhood education. It is due to release its report tomorrow. (June 1)

The Taskforce received thousands of submissions from parents, community members, early childhood teachers, centres and services, as well as sector organisations.

NZEI which represents early childhood teachers, says the overwhelming message in the submissions was that huge government funding cuts to centres and services with more than 80% qualified staff are unfair and undermine all efforts to provide the best quality early childhood education.

“Those cuts are really starting to bite with figures showing early childhood fees to parents rose 11.7% in the year to March 31 as services were forced to pass on costs to families,” says NZEI National Executive member Hayley Whitaker.

“It is also ironic that the government wants to redirect money to increase participation among Maori and Pasifika children, but the reality is that increased costs could end up excluding many of the 85-95% of Maori and Pasifika children who are already taking part.”

“We have a responsibility to ensure that the care and education of young children is of the best possible standard. To do that we need adequate investment in early childhood education and a fully qualified teaching workforce,” she says.

“Let’s hope the Taskforce responds to that and recommends policy which will enhance, rather than further undermine the quality education that our youngest children deserve.”

ENDS

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