7. SUE MORONEY (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Education
What plans does she have for early childhood education?
Hon ANNE TOLLEY (Minister of Education) Link to this
We have many, many exciting plans for early childhood services, including projects around the country to increase participation, plans to improve flexibility and reduce bureaucracy, and projects to ensure that children in Christchurch get back into early childhood education following the earthquake. We are doing all of this while being very responsible with taxpayer funds.
What has caused the delay in the release of the Taskforce on Early Childhood Education report she commissioned, which was initially due in March 2011, was then postponed until the second week of April, and has still not been released to date?
The task force is doing an extremely thorough job. As I told the member just recently, I expect it to report back soon.
Does she intend to publically release the work of the task force in the aftermath of next week’s Budget so that the task force’s response to the 330 submissions it received calling for 100 percent qualified staff, which she cut in February, gets buried in the bad news of the Budget?
As I just said in response to the question before last, the task force is doing an extremely thorough job, and it intends, as I understand, to report back soon. Of course we would want all its work to be available to the public.
When was she advised that the Taskforce on Early Childhood Education had completed its report and placed it on her desk?
Mr SPEAKERI call question No. 8. [ Interruption] Sorry—I just say to members that I have to be able to hear calls, please.
Rahui KateneDoes she agree with Diana Anderson, National Manager of Evaluation Services for the Education Review Office, that Māori children learn better when their education is put in a Māori context; if so, what initiatives is the ministry putting in place to ensure widespread adoption of such an approach?
Yes, I absolutely agree. There is plenty of evidence to show that that is absolutely correct. I would say particularly in respect of early childhood education that this Government has called a halt to the previous Government’s “build it and they will come” attitude for Māori youngsters, particularly in South Auckland. The Government is working with communities to make sure that we design services that suit their needs, that are culturally appropriate, and that deliver early childhood services in a way that each community in particular wants to see.
I seek leave to table a copy of the summary report on submissions to the Taskforce on Early Childhood Education, dated 18 February 2011, prepared by the task force secretariat.