U-turn urged on early childhood education

1st June 2011

The education sector union NZEI Te Riu Roa says the report by the Early Childhood Taskforce confirms that the government is on the wrong track with its early childhood education policy and an immediate u-turn is needed.

The Taskforce was set up by the government to advise on value for money in early childhood education.

“It is ironic that at a time when the government continues to argue that early childhood spending is unaffordable, the report clearly states that early childhood education must be considered a priority even in times of fiscal constraint,” says NZEI National Executive member Hayley Whitaker.

The report also recognises how essential quality early childhood education is and recommends improvements to teacher qualifications, group sizes and ratios.

Ms Whitaker says “those are all things which the government has actually moved to halt improvement on.”

In the past year funding has been cut to more than 2,000 services, the target for having 100% qualified teachers has been abandoned, professional development for early childhood teachers has been cut, support for teachers in training and new graduates has been reduced and group sizes have been radically increased.

The report does advocate targeting early childhood funding which could mean a watering down of 20 Hours ECE and introducing a more user pays, or part-subsidy model.

“Parents would be concerned to see any moves which would undermine universal and equal access to early childhood education. The government would not have a mandate to introduce any such system,” she says.

However overall the report reinforces the message that investing in quality early childhood education benefits the whole country as it generates higher returns than any other spending on education or social programmes for children later in life.

Hayley Whitaker says “let’s hope the government has the courage to listen to what the Taskforce is saying, and put children first by turning its early childhood policy around and putting it on the right track”.

ENDS

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