5. LYNNE PILLAY (Labour—Waitakere) Link to this
to the Minister of Education
What reports has he received about the success of the 20 hours’ free early childhood education policy?
Hon CHRIS CARTER (Minister of Education) Link to this
One year on from the launch of 20 free hours’ early childhood education for all 3 and 4-year-olds there has been a dramatic increase in enrolments, from 65,000 to 85,000. This policy was condemned by the National Party, when 20 free hours was introduced by Labour. The then National Party spokesperson said that we would never reach the level of enrolment we have today. National got it wrong again.
I have seen a report, slipped out with no fanfare in the middle of the last parliamentary adjournment, where National’s spokesperson on early childhood education, Paula Bennett, reversed 18 months of sour criticism of free early childhood education and now says that National will offer the same policy as well. Of course, as always, National qualifies its support for one of our popular policies by withdrawing the word “free” from its policy. The only message that parents and the public can draw is that National has no intention of continuing free 20 hours’ early childhood education for all 3 and 4-year-olds.