NZEI supports Green party’s commitment to quality early childhood education

21 July 2014

NZEI Te Riu Roa is welcoming the Green Party’s plans to boost the quality of early childhood education by restoring funding for centres with 100 percent qualified staff.

NZEI Te Riu Roa National President Judith Nowotarski says the government’s removal of the funding five years ago was a big step backwards for quality early childhood education.

“Since then kindergartens and other community-based centres have been struggling to maintain fully qualified staffing and have either had to burden parents for extra funding or face the prospect of reducing the quality of education," she said.

“Removing the funding for 100 percent qualified teaching was particularly short sighted of the government. Quality early childhood education is vitally important and helps set a child up for long term success.

“Research shows that quality early childhood education is particularly beneficial for children from more deprived backgrounds so this policy would help reduce the growing inequality that is affecting education in this country.

"We strongly believe that every child has the right to thrive and to achieve their potential."

She says NZEI Te Riu Roa also welcomes the extension of the 20 hours free early childhood education subsidy to cover two year olds.

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