Government Discriminating Against Majority Of Early Childhood Teachers
New Zealand First Education Spokesperson, Hon Brian Donnelly, said today that the Government’s announcement to proceed
in returning kindergarten teachers to the state sector, discriminates against all other early childhood teachers.
“Kindergarten Associations are not state sector organisations. Neither are the other deliverers of early childhood
education such as kohanga reo, Pacific Island language nests, Montessori pre-schools and childcare centres. By its
announcement, the Government has indicated that it values one group of early childhood educators more than others.”
“The only characteristic unique to kindergartens is that its teachers are members of the primary teacher’s union, the
NZEI.
“The Government is acting inconsistently with regards to early childhood teachers. More than 60% of early childhood
education is provided by organisations other than kindergartens.”
“The Minister of Education, Hon Trevor Mallard, is insulting these teachers by this move,” said Brian Donnelly.
Ends