Government can’t ignore its own advice on early childhood

2nd June 2011
For Immediate Release

Government can’t ignore its own advice on early childhood investment

The government can no longer argue against more investment in early childhood education when the Prime Minister’s own advisor says it is critical to how children develop later in life, according to the education sector union NZEI TE Riu Roa.

The report, Improving the Transition by Sir Peter Gluckman looked at reducing the social and psychological problems of the nation's teenagers.

It identifies good quality early childhood education as a key factor in reducing the risk of children having difficulties as adolescents and young adults. It also stresses the value of early childhood interventions and clearly states that the long term rewards of such interventions outweigh the short-term costs.

NZEI National Executive member Hayley Whitaker says those comments are heartening but they come at time when the government seems determined to do all it can to devalue and undermine quality early childhood education.

“In the past year we’ve seen funding cut to more than 2,000 services, affecting 93,000 children. The government has abandoned the target for having 100% qualified teachers, professional development for early childhood teachers has been cut, support for teachers in training and new graduates has been reduced and group sizes have been radically increased.”

“That does not represent investment in early childhood education,” she says.

NZEI is urging the government to commit to a plan to invest 1% of GDP on early childhood education as recommended by UNICEF. An OECD report in 2009 showed New Zealand spent 0.4% of GDP - well below the OECD average.

“As Professor Gluckman’s report identifies, proper investment in quality early childhood education reaps big rewards. The question now is will the government listen,” says Ms Whitaker.

ENDS

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