7. KATHERINE RICH (National) Link to this
to the Minister of Education
How many 3 and 4-year-olds will “definitely get” 20 free hours of early childhood education on 1 July 2007?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY (Minister of Education) Link to this
It is good news. From 1 July this year up to 90,000 3 to 4-year-olds in teacher-led centres will be eligible for Labour’s 20 free hours policy.
As it is clear from that answer that the Minister has no idea how many kids will actually receive 20 free hours early childhood education from 1 July, what is his response to the Montessori Association of New Zealand calling the policy “morally wrong and something that will undermine the quality of early childhood education in this country.”?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
Puzzlement, because I met with the Montessori group just last week—along with 12 other parts of the early childhood sector—and members of the group at that time advised me that they have one particular issue with the policy: that unlike most centres they retain children who are aged 5. Most other centres pass them on to a primary school at that time. They said they want to come into the system, but it would take them a little bit longer to work out how to handle it, given that they retain those 5-year-olds.
Sue MoroneyWhat evidence does the Minister have that 20 hours free early childhood education is well supported?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
I have seen a great deal of support from parents and from the sector. For example, the New Zealand Childcare Association said last week that “free 20 hours’ gives parents more choices,” and that they are confident that “the quality of the service will not be compromised”. Over 160,000 parent attestation forms have been ordered by early childhood centres up till now. That goes alongside the enthusiasm of parent John Key, who said: “We want our young kids to have the 20 hours’ free.”, but, of course, the policy is not supported by people like Paula Bennett, who has asked for it to be scrapped because she wants to make room for tax cuts.
Hon Brian Donnelly Link to this
Can the Minister explain to the House whether, having gained approval from parents of all current students that they will pay for additional provisions over and above 20-hours-free provisions, a centre will be able to refuse enrolment of a child whose parent at a later date refuses to pay such additional costs?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
The way the rules work—as the member will know and is wanting to confirm—is that 20 hours’ free is free; that a centre can establish an optional charge with a parent, and that once that charge has been established and agreed to by the parent it is enforceable.
Does the Minister concede that it looks bad for his policy when the Early Childhood Council says it is dangerous, that it is “the biggest threat to quality of early childhood education in a generation”, and that “if this policy goes ahead as it is, the quality of early childhood education in New Zealand is set to fall. Teachers will be laid off. Educational programmes will be cut.”?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
Once again I have to say I am curious, given that I met last week with members of the early childhood sector, including the Early Childhood Council. I also know that 70 percent of its members have already decided that they are in, or that they intend to come in. So I assume that what the member is reading is a memo about an internal debate going on within the Early Childhood Council.
Paula BennettDoes the Minister accept that even if he does not think 20 hours free was an election promise, parents obviously do when they now have to start a group called 20hoursfree.please and a petition asking Labour to deliver on that promise?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
I understand that the parents who are involved—the eight to 10 of them who are currently running the petition—are parents who do not currently have children involved in early childhood education. The 92,000 who currently do are the ones who are currently being talked about. As the 10-year strategy unfolds for early childhood education—we are 5 years through it—we have more registered teachers and we open more centres. All parents who are eligible will be able to get their children in.
Why, when a number of early childhood associations and councils keep telling the Minister this policy is flawed, and when parents have to start a petition to explain to the Minister that this policy is flawed, does he not just admit that parents will not get 20 hours free for their 3 and 4-year-olds as promised by this Government?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
I am determined to implement this policy because I want to prevent the National Party members from ever having a chance to scrap it.