$10m scheme targets early education

By DITA DE BONI

The Government has pledged $10 million to promote early childhood education to families who do not send their preschoolers to class.

Education Minister Trevor Mallard, speaking at an Educational Institute (NZEI) conference yesterday, said the money - part of this year's education budget allowance - would be used to identify regions where children were not sent to preschool and ensure more consistent access.

As promised in last year's Budget, another $30 million for community-based early childhood education services, targeted at low socio-economic areas, will also be available over the next four years through an "equity funding" system.

In addition, $5 million collected from "a variety of underspends" will boost the sector's building funds to almost $14 million.

"Quality early childhood education is important for lifting standards throughout the education system," Mr Mallard said. "We want to be more active in identifying the areas where there is not enough provision and provide more help to communities to set up centres."

At present, 172,000 children are enrolled at around 4100 institutions offering preschool programmes. About 40 per cent of those children go to licensed childcare centres, the rest to kindergartens, parent co-operatives (playcentres), kohanga reo, unlicensed "playgroups", and Pacific Islands language groups.

Most are administered by voluntary agencies with Government help in the form of bulk grants. New institutions are built largely where parents in the community are prepared to help pay for the service.

Ministry statistics show overall participation in preschool education is high for 3- and 4-year-olds, but attendance by Maori and Pacific Island children is much lower.

Around 32 per cent of Maori and 20 per cent of Pacific Island 4-year-olds do not take part in preschool at all.

Last year, the Government received a Strategic Plan on Early Childhood Education, which it is still considering. But the plan calls for much more Government involvement in the sector.

One controversial suggestion - that preschool teachers be awarded pay parity with primary and secondary teachers - will be phased in by the Government in July.

The idea of a compulsory preschool system has been floated, but there were "questions around desirability and availability" that made the prospect unlikely, Mr Mallard told the Herald last night.

News of more Government involvement in the sector has pleased the NZEI, the union that represents 34,000 teaching staff.

National president Amanda Coulston called Mr Mallard's announcement yesterday "huge", saying it was the first time the state had taken an active role in ensuring a planned national network of early childhood providers.

"Provision of these services has been left to 'the market' until now, and the state has had a hands-off attitude.

"Early childhood eduction is too important to leave to market forces and the union is pleased the minister has acknowledged that by announcing this project."