More Evidence of a Slash and Burn Approach to ECE

More Evidence of a Slash and Burn Approach to Early Childhood Education

The government is pursuing a slash and burn agenda when it comes to early childhood education, according to the education sector union NZEI Te Riu Roa.

Pre-budget briefing papers show pay rises won by kindergarten teachers will not be passed on to other types of early childhood services as they have in the past. The move amounts to a $20 million cut to the early childhood sector in the next financial year, and even more in following years.

It comes on top of the $285 million dollars the government is already taking out of early childhood education by reducing funding to centres employing 80-100% fully qualified staff.

“This decision will put even more pressure on services and centres which are trying to juggle big funding drops. The end result is likely to push fees up even higher,” says NZEI Vice President Judith Nowotarksi.

“It’s another example of the government’s lack of commitment to children and families and more evidence that it does not value having qualified teachers providing quality education to our youngest children.”

The decision could also drive down wages in the early childhood sector and undermines the achievement of pay parity for early childhood teachers.

Judith Nowotarski says “with no flow-on funding, early childhood services will struggle to pay teachers the same rates as their kindergarten colleagues. That represents a huge step backwards for early childhood teachers in their fight to have their professional status recognised.”

“At the end of the day these cuts will impact on children and families. It’s time for the government to stop making early childhood education the biggest loser.”

ENDS

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