Mallard’s voucher system too complicated

National’s Education spokesman, Bill English, says Education Minister Trevor Mallard will have to simplify his complicated early childhood voucher system to meet the needs of parents.

Labour’s new early childhood funding system is an hourly voucher entitlement, with the hourly value adjusted according to the status and qualification of the teacher present at that hour of the day.

“I have received reports directly from teachers who have attended Government training sessions where officials have told them that parents will have to adjust their working hours to fit in with the system,” says Mr English.

Mr English attempted to table one such report in Parliament last week but was denied leave do to so by Mr Mallard.

“Under attack from National, Labour has had to change every silly bureaucratic education policy Trevor Mallard has invented – this one will be no different,” says Mr English.

“While Mr Mallard might think teachers can fill out his forms in a few minutes, teachers tell me it takes them up to an hour and a half each day. And while he may think parents can adjust their schedules to fit in with Labour’s plans for their children, the real world doesn’t work like that.

“Mr Mallard has done the right thing by sticking to a voucher, but he needs to simplify it so it works for parents and teachers.

“I suggest Mr Mallard gets out of the Beehive and into the real world to talk to the teachers and parents affected by the changes, rather than relying on the word of the bureaucrats who dreamt the system up in the first place,” says Mr English.

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