7. SUE MORONEY (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Education
Does she stand by her statement “Early childhood education and care is a top priority for this Government.”?
Hon SIMON POWERHow many new places has she funded for early childhood education services, given that her ministry estimates that 19,000 new places are required by 2011 just to maintain the increased participation rates achieved under Labour; can the Minister be careful not to include the additional places funded by the previous Labour Government when she answers?
Although I do not have those specific numbers with me today, I can advise the House that Vote Early Childhood Education has seen a 7 percent increase from last year in funds made available. In fact, $69.7 million of new money over the next 4 years was announced in the Budget this year, starting with Budget 2009, and I am sure that the sector will prioritise the spending in the interests of our children.
In the interests of our children, then, will she lift the cap on tertiary providers, so that they can train more early childhood education teachers for this sector, where there is high demand, and which could be one of the few growth sectors for employment, particularly for women; if not, why not?
I am sure those ratios have been well thought through, and the basis and logic for them well-thought-out.
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. The Minister failed to answer the question. I did not ask anything about ratios. The question was about the cap of tertiary providers, and whether it would be lifted in order to train more early childhood education teachers. The question was not about ratios.
Mr SPEAKERI am sure the logic for the cap was well-thought-out, and the logic behind it will do the best in providing provision and services for our children.
When will the Minister turn her attention to making progress on the early childhood education sector, which she herself has said is a top priority for this Government?
The Minister’s attention has been firmly on this matter since 19 November, and will continue to be so right through her tenure in this role.
I seek leave to table two documents. The first is a document titled “Long wait for preschool places”, dated 9 September 2009, published by the Timaru Herald.
I seek leave to table a document titled “Big queues to get into preschools”, dated 8 September 2009, from the Christchurch Press.