10. Hon TAU HENARE (National) Link to this
to the Minister of Education
How many 3 and 4-year-olds will receive 20 free hours of early childhood education from July 2007?
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA (Acting Minister of Education) Link to this
On behalf of theMinister, based on current enrolments of 3 and 4-year olds in early childhood services, Labour’s 20 free hours policy will be available for up to 92,000 children.
Why did the Minister promise at the last election that 92,000 children would get 20 hours free childcare, when in Auckland and Wellington over 70 percent of providers said they would not be able to provide it?
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA Link to this
There is mixed participation, but certainly the Minister is sticking by the statement he made before the election and now. We are tracking towards 92,000 early childhood participants.
Hon Brian Donnelly Link to this
Can the Minister explain the educational rationale for a policy that will fully fund a parent using early childhood care services for 4 hours per day, 4 days a week, but not a parent using services for two 8-hour days; and does not this policy discriminate against rural parents?
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA Link to this
As I said, there are mixed assessments, but certainly it will not disadvantage those people.
Why did the Minister last week in the House deny knowing the existence of survey figures that show that over 70 percent of Auckland and Wellington providers would not offer 20 free hours, and when the chief executive officer of the Early Childhood Council actually met with him before last week, at short notice, and discussed the same figures?
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA Link to this
A survey shows that most centres will not be able to offer free early childhood education. What we will be offering centres is a subsidy for 20 free hours. The rate is the crucial issue as to whether providers will take it up. That rate has not been set yet; we will announce it early next year.
Why is the Minister now using the term “up to 92,000 children” will be eligible for, or have “available” to them, 20 free hours, when what he actually promised before the last election was that those children would definitely get 20 free hours under Labour?
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA Link to this
There are early childcare centres that do not even supply 20 hours of education per week.
Hon Dr Nick SmithHon PAREKURA HOROMIA Link to this
We have not broken our promise. We will fund 92,000 early childcare participants.
Which early childhood centres provide just 20 hours—or even fewer, as the Minister just told the House—of early childhood education per week?
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA Link to this
I do not know exactly which ones. But in the work to develop free early childhood education rates we are considering whether we need to have different rates for different areas. Rates will not be sufficient for centres in areas like Auckland—as I think that member is alluding to. The most recent data shows that the average cost is similar in rural and urban areas, and that there is a wide range of costs in every area. The rate is the crucial issue as to whether providers will take it up. We will announce the rate early next year.
Can the Minister confirm that providers will be able to ask for optional charges, and that this may lead to the awkward position—as one Clevedon provider recently pointed out—of having to tell a child: “You might have your togs, honey, but mummy hasn’t paid for this optional extra, so you can’t swim.”?
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA Link to this
The sector advisory group has given the ministry feedback on the simplest ways to implement the policy, and the ministry has taken that into account. I do not know about youngsters not wearing their togs, but as a youngster I knew a lot of Māori kids who used to swim in the river with no togs on.
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I am not sure whether it is a point of order, but I ask for your clarification of what the last part of the Minister’s answer had to do with the free 20 hours.
Madam SPEAKER