Leadership needed on ECE teacher shortage

NZEI Te Riu Roa President, Lynda Stuart, is seeking urgent action on the ECE workforce following a statement from Te Rito Maioha Early Childhood New Zealand today.

"I imagine the NZ public would be a little surprised to hear the Ministry of Education claims to have little information about the early childhood workforce. There appears to be a shortage of at least 300 ECE teachers, and this shortage needs to be addressed proactively and urgently."

"Parents and children need action on this issue now, including coherent workforce planning to meet children's needs, and also to meet the Government's own commitments of a 100% qualified early childhood workforce."

"There are fewer people graduating as ECE teachers, which is very concerning. The problem is getting worse rather than better."

"We urgently need a plan for early childhood, and we need to get to work solving this problem."

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