MEDIA RELEASE
9 JULY 1999
Education Minister Nick Smith today announced new licensing requirements for the early childhood sector that will
require higher qualifications and more experience for teachers in charge of early childhood centres.
"The early childhood sector has expanded rapidly over the last decade with over 1,100 additional centres and 40,000
additional places. It is timely that we focus on improved quality and not just increased quantity."
New regulations will require that the person responsible for an early childhood centre will have attained a degree or
diploma in early childhood education. The current archaic licensing points system will be abolished. A further
requirement will be that a person in charge of a centre must have had two years practical experience working in the
sector.
"International research demonstrates a clear link between the quality of an early childhood education and staff
qualifications. The first five years of a child's life are just too important to be compromised by inadequately trained
teachers."
The new qualifications and experience requirement will be phased in over the next 2 ½ years, to take full effect from
2002. Persons with more than 30 licensing points will be able to complete the old qualification and those who have
already met the licensing points requirement will be able to continue to be in charge of centres.
"With our focus on quality, we are also investing in new quality indicators for early childhood providers and are making
practical resources and extra professional development available to early childhood services from funding provided in
the budget."
"The Government views the early childhood sector as one in which we can make the greatest gains. These new quality
standards will help ensure our pre-schoolers get the best possible start in life."
ENDS