ECE gets further out of reach for families

Early Childhood Education is getting further out of reach for families, says Labour’s ECE spokesperson Sue Moroney.

“The Government's announced today funding for an additional 234 children for the entire country. That is simply pathetic and will not achieve increased participation,” Sue Moroney said.

“The Minister knows that she needs to create 19,000 additional places for children in ECE by 2011, just to maintain 2009 levels of participation and increase the rate of participation of Maori and Pasifika children.

“The Minister’s of Education and Maori Affairs who made today’s announcement also failed to mention that ECE fees will be going up because of funding reductions and that the number of qualified teachers in ECE centres is likely to reduce.

“None of the centres who will receive funding from today’s announcement will be funded for 80-100% qualified staff because of the funding cuts to the sector.

“The claim that the National- Maori Government is making Early Childhood Education more accessible to families is simply untrue.

“The Government has been promising an announcement on accessibility in Early Childhood Education for weeks. Surely today’s announcement can’t be it.

“The National-Maori Government’s announcement today is a desperate attempt to mislead the public about the fact that under their leadership ECE is getting further out of reach for families,” Sue Moroney said.

ENDS

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