Review Must Increase ECE Investment

Early Childhood Education Review Must Increase Investment

Increasing investment in early childhood education and establishing a timeframe for achieving and funding 100 per cent qualified teachers in the sector must be the fundamental cornerstones of the Minister of Education’s review of early education, NZEI Te Riu Roa says.

The government has just announced a taskforce to review spending on early childhood education.

NZEI, the professional and industrial union representing early childhood teachers, says the wide ranging review was set up without consultation with the sector, and does not include representatives of teachers.

NZEI vice president Judith Nowotarski says New Zealand needs to spend more, not less on early childhood education if it wants a highly educated society and a more productive economy.

In announcing the task force, Education Minister Anne Tolley said there had been a cost blowout without a corresponding increase in participation.

This is simply not true. The numbers of young children benefitting from sustained, regular participation in early childhood education has been growing steadily over the past decade, as the government’s figures show.

In addition, the 20 hours free policy shifted costs away from parents, recognising that society as a whole benefits from early education, which sets children up for success at school. If those costs are shifted back to parents, many families will simply miss out.

Much of the extra funding that has gone into early education has been to boost quality. New Zealand’s system was previously underfunded, and quality was inconsistent, with few qualified teachers in many services.

“How does reducing quality support a productive economy?” Ms Nowotarski asks.

New Zealand’s spending remains modest by OECD standards. Last week, NZEI Te Riu Roa’s annual meeting called for New Zealand to spend 1% of GDP on early childhood education, in line with UNICEF recommendations, instead of the 0.8 % it spends now.

Early childhood education delivers returns on investment of up to $17 for every $1 spent. This is because of the benefits it provides in terms of better education and health levels, higher workforce participation, reduced welfare dependency and lower crime levels.

Research showing this level of return is available on the Ministry’s own website.

ENDS

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