3. Hon CHRIS CARTER (Independent—Te Atatū) Link to this
to the Minister of Education
Does she agree with the Rt Hon John Key’s comment at Waitangi’s Te Tii Marae last year that improving education outcomes for Māori children would help address rising Māori unemployment?
Hon ANNE TOLLEYCan she explain, then, to the House how cutting Government funding to over 2,000 early childhood centres by some $285 million improves the educational outcome for Māori students?
First of all, I say that this Government is investing more in early childhood education than any other Government has ever done: $1.4 billion, which is up now over 10 percent of the education budget. The second thing I say is that under the previous Government, which that member used to be a member of, a considerable number of children, particularly Māori, did not access early childhood education. In some areas, up to 20 percent of Māori children were unable to access early childhood education. This Government is putting almost $100 million into early childhood education participation projects aimed at lifting Māori participation.
Colin KingWhat initiatives has she taken to improve Māori education outcomes, since becoming Minister of Education?
We are taking this issue extremely seriously. It is why we have introduced national standards and now whanaketanga rūmaki Māori to pick up struggling kids before it is too late and help them to read, write, and do maths. We are introducing the Youth Guarantee to help address the fact that more than half of Māori students are dropping out of school without a worthwhile qualification. We also have a number of Māori-focused initiatives—it is a long list; I will keep it as brief as possible—early childhood education participation projects and extending 20 free hours to kōhanga reo; $36 million to support schools with national standards and now whanaketanga rūmaki Māori; $45 million in this financial year alone on kura developments; extending Te Kotahitanga and He Kākano; helping to better manage Māori learner engagement and attendance of students; the parents, families, and whānau programme; the 43 iwi relationships; and more te reo teachers. This list compares with the Labour Government’s great initiative to improve Māori learning: the “Wassup!” badges. Do members remember them? That was Labour’s answer to Māori—
Mr SPEAKERI intend to make sure that we start this year as we are going to carry on. I have just reminded the Minister that answers are not time for a speech. I listened while the Minister was giving information, but once she went on to attack the Opposition in response to a question from her own colleague, I interrupted her. I ask the member, when I have called him, to just ask his question, please.
Is she aware of Ministry of Education statistics that clearly demonstrate that increased early childhood education funding by the Labour Government between 2000 and 2007 led to an increase in participation of Māori preschoolers from 84 percent to 90.6 percent, and Pasifika preschoolers from 76.1 percent to 84 percent, and does that not just prove that educational success happens when we put in more resources, not cut them?
Yes, the Labour Government increased funding dramatically—in fact, three times. It trebled the money that was going to early childhood education. Unfortunately, across the board the children turning up at school having had early childhood education experience grew by less than 1 percent. So throwing money at something does not get good results. All it gets is an out-of-control education system.
I seek leave to table some statistics prepared by the Ministry of Education showing increased participation through the period that the Labour Government spent extra on early childhood education funding.
Hon Clayton Cosgrove Link to this
I seek leave to table a report in which the Swannanoa Preschool makes two points: one, that they are losing $100,000—
The member will resume his seat immediately. He will not go on to make a statement like that without making very clear what the report or document is that he is seeking to table. He did not make the source of the document clear. Before he says what is in it, he will make the source clear.
Hon Clayton Cosgrove Link to this
Sure. The $100,000 cut is noted in the Northern Outlook community newspaper.
Hon Trevor MallardI am on my feet. That is exactly why the member should have identified what the document was before he sought to make his political point. I will not tolerate that kind of thing.
Sue MoroneyI seek leave to table a letter from the Minister of Education to the Matua Plunket Kindergarten, proposing that it increase fees for 20 hours’ free early childhood education to make up for her funding cuts to the kindergarten.