5. KATHERINE RICH (National) Link to this
to the Minister of Education
How many teacher-led early childhood education providers have opted in to the Government’s promised policy of 20 free hours for all 3 and 4-year-olds, as of today’s date?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY (Minister of Education) Link to this
The Ministry of Education is processing all advanced claim forms that it has received from early childhood education services and checking them for accuracy, so full information on take-up is not currently available. As I informed the member last Thursday, I will be in a position around 1 July to give full details on how many centres are in the scheme, how many children are involved, where they are, and so on. I know that the member is optimistically looking forward to that result, as am I.
Why does the Minister not know how many centres have opted in to his policy; when all the centres had to return their forms nearly 2 weeks ago, and all the Ministry of Education has to do is to count them, is he expecting the House to believe that he has no idea how many centres have opted in at this point, and is he not negligent if he does not have some estimate?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
One thing I do know is that I do not need to deliver the timetable that the member opposite is offering me. I just repeat that the Ministry of Education is processing claim forms now. The member might like to know that although the closing date was 6 June, a number of centres have been trickling in since then and asking whether they can be part of the process that kicks off on 1 July. So if the member can just hold her enthusiasm until 1 July, we will try at around that time to get the information to her.
Moana MackeyDoes the Minister agree with National Party spokesperson Paula Bennett, who told Radio New Zealand National on Saturday that it is clear parents will get cheaper early childhood education from 1 July?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
I do agree. From 1 July tens of thousands of New Zealand parents will have more money in their hands every week, and the number of those parents will grow over following years, as the number of services increases. Having many services involved will mean that parents are receiving between $80 and $90 a week for 20 hours free early childhood education, and some will get up to as much as $97 per week. So I am very glad of, and I welcome, Miss Paula Bennett’s recognition of the policy. I understand now why the numbers went up in Whakatāne when she was there, as a result of her visit.
When this policy is due to go live in under 2 weeks, is the Minister expecting the House to believe that he has no idea how many centres have opted in at this point, when all the Ministry of Education has to do is to take the forms and count them?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
I want to reassure that member that everything is under control. I know she is anxious; I know she is worried; I know she is optimistic. I know that John Key is saying that 20 hours free is a wonderful policy, and that meanwhile the National website says that the party will scrap it. I know that all those contradictions are there, but they will come clear around 1 July.
When this is a flagship policy for this Government, which promised at the 2005 election that all 3 and 4-year-olds would have access to 20 free hours, is he as a Minister saying he has no idea—not even an estimate—of how many centres will take up this policy by July?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
Of course I keep track of this policy, but I want to say to the member that she should just relax. She will know when the policy kicks off around 1 July what the numbers are, and we will give her a full and an accurate picture.
Paula BennettIs it within the rules for a centre to change from half-days or 6-hour full days to 7-hour days, regardless of how long a child is there, and then to overcharge for the seventh hour in order to make up for the shortfall in funding?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
If the member has a real case, as opposed to the hypothetical one she has outlined, she can give it to me and I will look at it.
Does the Minister agree with Anthony Gilbert, a childcare specialist who sent a newsletter to centres advising that in order to get certainty of income, they should bend the rules by extending sessions to 7 hours and overcharging for the seventh hour?
In that case, can the Minister confirm that his officials saw Anthony Gilbert’s newsletter that advises centres that they should bend the rules by extending sessions to 7 hours and overcharging for the seventh hour, and that they saw it before it went out, made a few adjustments, and then approved it for distribution?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
One thing I do know is that I will not rely on the account given by the member about anything that has happened around this policy. I will confirm to the House that one of the things the ministry has been doing is working closely with the sector. The ministry has had over 162 meetings this year alone with members of the sector.
Hon Peter DunneI raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I did not hear a word of that last answer from the Minister. I wonder whether he would be good enough to repeat it and whether the hubbub could subside.
Madam SPEAKERHon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
I pointed out to the House that I would not rely on that member for any kind of account of a meeting that she was probably not at herself. I also said to the House that the ministry has been working closely with people from right across the sector, and has had at least 162 meetings this year with individual centres and with groups. I think the ministry is doing a good job of explaining the policy.