Charles
CHAUVEL
Labour MP based in Ohariu

Wednesday, 22 June 2011 MEDIA STATEMENT
Government ECE cuts force Kindergartens into a corner

A letter to parents and whanau from Wellington Kindergartens – a non-profit early childcare provider - outlining an increase in fees - is an inevitable consequence of Government cuts to Early Childhood Education (ECE), according to Labour List MP based in Ohariu Charles Chauvel.

“Cuts by the Government over the past two years have undermined the Government’s professed commitment to affordable and quality early education. I’m not surprised by Wellington Kindergartens’ response, but I am offended by the Governments hypocrisy – it says it supports our youngest kiwis, but its actions do not bear this out”, said Mr Chauvel.

Parents have been told in a letter from the Kindergarten board that to meet the shortfall in funding by the Government, they are asking parents to contribute up to $10 more a week. So a family with two kids at kindy will pay an extra $800 in the coming year over 40 weeks. That’s a big impact in anyone’s book.

“As winter sets in, and as household budgets feel even tighter, this announcement will mean even tougher decisions have to be made on how to make ends meet. It doesn’t have to be this way”, Chauvel said.

“If people in Ohariu are wondering who supported this, then they should know that the electorate’s two Government MPs Peter Dunne and Katrina Shanks voted for the ECE funding cuts. Come November, they will have to explain their voting record.

ENDS

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