Paula Bennett MP
National Party Associate Education Spokeswoman
(Early Childhood)

12 July 2007

Parliament crèche discovers meaning of ‘free’

The three and four-year-olds of politicians, parliamentarians and public servants are now learning first-hand what the Education Minister meant when he said ‘every three and four-year-old in the country will have 20 hours of free early childhood education’, says National’s Associate Education spokeswoman, Paula Bennett.

“And what they’ve discovered is they’ve been fed a big, fat fraud.

The playHouse parliamentary crèche has opted into the government scheme but has had to resort to charging more for hours beyond the 20 free.

“The licensee of the playHouse admits they only opted in because they thought it would ‘look bad’ if they didn’t, but they couldn’t afford to make the scheme ‘free’

“While they have resisted asking for ‘voluntary’ donations, like almost half of all ECE centres who have opted in, they have been forced to increase hourly charges outside the ‘free’ 20 hours offered by Labour.

“And the Reserve Bank crèche, which looks after the children of staff at the bank, the Social Development Ministry and the Labour Department, has not even opted to join the government scheme! In fact, those running the Kids Reserve crèche had reportedly put out pamphlets criticising the scheme.

“What more evidence does Steve Maharey need? Even Labour’s own public servants think the scheme is a lemon.

“There can be no greater indictment.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media