Govt Should Not Walk Away From a Fully Qualified Early Childhood Teaching Workforce
The government is ignoring the wishes of the early childhood sector by walking away from a commitment to a fully
qualified teaching workforce, according to the education union NZEI Te Riu Roa.
From next year 80% of teachers were supposed to be qualified and registered but the government has now pushed that
target out by two years. It also appears to have dropped altogether a commitment for a fully qualified teaching
workforce by 2012.
NZEI, which represents thousands of early childhood teachers, recognises there are pressures to meet next year’s target
due to teacher shortages.
However it says there is no reason to abandon moves towards a fully qualified workforce by 2012. Earlier this year the
Ministry told an NZEI teacher supply conference that it was on track to meet the fully qualified target which could
include 30% of teachers still in training. There was also firm agreement at that conference among public and private ECE
providers, that there should be no watering down or change to the qualification targets.
NZEI National Executive member Judith Nowotarski says one of the strongest indicators of quality early childhood
education is having fully qualified and registered staff.
“It is disappointing to see the government weaken its commitment to quality education for young children. We want
assurances that it will reinstate or continue with moves towards having a 100% qualified and registered workforce,” she
says.
Teacher supply in early childhood education is complex but one of the problems is the lack of alignment with government
tertiary education policy. Despite the teacher shortage the number of training places available in early childhood
education is capped and training providers have to turn away hundreds of suitable applicants.
Judith Nowotarski says “it’s ironic that on the eve of World Teachers Day which is about celebrating and valuing
teaching and learning, we have a government announcement which completely undermines it.”
ENDS