NZEI Calls for More Community-Based ECE

Media Release July 2 2007
From NZEI Te Riu Roa For Immediate Use
2.7.07

NZEI Calls for More Community-Based Early Childhood Education

The good number of early childhood education centres throughout New Zealand that have opted in to the Government's 20 hours free ECE programme, which kicks off today, is very positive, because it will mean more 3 and 4 year olds have better access to quality early education, says NZEI President Irene Cooper.

"But the figures released today by the Government clearly show that the lowest take-up by centres of the 20 hours free is in Auckland, and that is because Auckland is where the profit-driven commercial centres have the greatest hold in the market", says Ms Cooper.

" The vast majority of parents prefer to have their children in affordable, high quality early childhood education as opposed to centres that exist to return a profit to their corporate masters, but in Auckland, they often just don't have the option.

This clearly shows that we need more community ECE centres in Auckland, and soon."

In Auckland, only 51% of ECE centres opted into the new programme, compared to 100% in Nelson and Tasman, and over 95% in Northland and the West Coast. It is interesting to note that in general, lower income areas are those that have jumped fastest at the chance for the 20 hours free, she says.

"Families on low incomes and the centres that serve them have immediately seen how much they have to gain from the 20 hours free policy", says Ms Cooper. "That's despite the strong anti-20 hours free campaign that's been fronted by the commercial centres, that stand to lose money under the 20 hours free ECE."

All families need to have access to quality early childhood education wthout paying a fortune, says Ms Cooper - and that's why NZEI wants to see more community centres established in areas where parents have no choice but to send their children to profit-making centres which are not entering the scheme.

ENDS

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