Meet the candidates evening to discuss early childhood education (ECE) policies and issues affecting children

Where: Te Rito Maioha, 12 - 14 Pukete Rd, Te Rapa, Hamilton. The venue is behind Chorus. There is parking on Perclo Place: entry through Perclo Pl. pedestrian gate

When: Thursday 31 August 2017 between 5.30-7pm

Who: Candidates from Greens, Labour, National and NZ First

On 31 August 2017 Waikato - Bay of Plenty Chapter of OMEP Aotearoa is hosting a Meet the Candidates evening to hear the parties’ early childhood education policies. There will also be discussion on their thoughts on issues affecting families and children, including poverty, domestic violence and crime.

Candidates from the Greens, Labour, National and NZ First parties will be attending. There is a chance for candidates to speak to their policies of their party, followed by a questions and answers session.

Key areas of concern in early childhood education that will be discussed include funding, group sizes and ratios and restoring the target of 100 percent qualified teachers in early childhood education. We also expect comment on the funding freeze that has affected the early childhood sector with many centres struggling to pay basic bills.

In addition to questions directly linked to early childhood education, the candidates will be questioned on broader social issues. Child poverty, child abuse and domestic violence and crime affect the very youngest members of our society and impact on their education. We aim to ask the candidates how their parties intend to address poverty and the need for more equal and fair access to housing, employment, education, and health.

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