1. MOANA MACKEY (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Education
What is the Government doing to put quality early childhood education within the reach of all New Zealand families?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY (Minister of Education) Link to this
Today I am announcing $9 million in new grants to assist 42 early childhood education providers to plan for and build new early childhood centres. The funding, which goes to low socio-economic, rural, and isolated communities, will provide for nearly 500 new places across New Zealand’s growing network of early childhood centres.
What else is the Government doing to lift the quality of early childhood teaching and lower the cost to all parents?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
Heaps, but I will just limit myself to the following. Through this year’s Budget, the Government will invest an additional $162 million in early childhood education. That includes $128 million to implement Labour’s policy of 20 hours a week of free early childhood education for 3 and 4-year-olds, $30 million to help centres to employ more qualified teachers, an extra $4 million to ensure playcentres remain financially sustainable, and, overall, ensuring that people carry on remembering how much Labour is doing for early childhood and how little National did.
Hon Tau HenareDoes the Minister believe that the downgrading of the Parents as First Teachers programme in the Hawke’s Bay is something that he is doing to put quality early childhood education within the reach of all New Zealanders?
Hon Brian Donnelly Link to this
Can the Minister explain why a parent who works 5 hours per day for 4 days will have 20 hours of early childhood provision subsidised by the Government, whereas someone who works two 8-hour days will have only three-quarters of his or her childcare subsidised?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
The member is referring to the fact that we have agreed with the early childhood sector that we will introduce the free 20 hours at 6 hours per day. The reason it is being introduced in that way is that the current way of funding the early childhood education sector is for 6 hours per day. The sector agrees with us that we should introduce this new policy with current arrangements, monitor it, and change it when necessary.