'Registered' Isn't a Synonym for 'Good'
The primary school teachers' union, NZEI, has once again put the interests of its leaders ahead of those of New Zealand
children and families, Education Forum policy advisor Norman LaRocque said today.
Mr LaRocque was commenting on today's NZEI media release supporting the government's decision to require all teachers in
registered early childhood centres to be registered.
"The issues surrounding quality in early childhood care are not as simplistic as the NZEI seems to think. Being a
registered teacher is not necessarily the same as being a good teacher. Requiring all staff to register could actually
reduce quality by forcing good , but unregistered , teachers to leave the sector and by forcing some parents into using
lower quality and less safe 'backyard' care.
"The government's registration policy is probably good for the union. It is not clear that it is good for New Zealand
children or families.
"Not content with having stuffed up the school system with its one-size-fits-all model, the NZEI is now looking to
mutate its failed prescription of overregulation onto an early childhood sector that is successfully meeting the needs
of thousands of New Zealand families.
"What the NZEI really doesn't like is that there are now independent voices on early childhood education policy like the
Early Childhood Council and the Education Forum to challenge the self-serving commentary emanating from NZEI
headquarters.
"Unfortunately for the NZEI, that is not going to change. Its leadership should get used to it and begin to engage in
meaningful debate on important policy issues rather than simply quoting chapter and verse from the 'no teacher union
left behind' handbook," Mr LaRocque said.