$61 million more for early childhood education

3.00pm

Early childhood education will get an additional $61 million from the Government over the next four years, the Government said in today's budget.

The funding has been set aside to phase in pay parity for kindergarten teachers, Education Minister Trevor Mallard said.

It will also help bring in initiatives arising from the early childhood strategic plan, he said.

The plan is due to be released on July 1.

The Government recognised there would be flow-on effects in early childhood education, due to pay parity so had put in place a two stage increase in funding available to Rate 2 centres -- which employ higher numbers of qualified staff, Mr Mallard said.

Rate 2 centres would get a 1.4 per cent inflation adjustment from July 1, and a 2.3 per cent increase at the beginning of 2003.

Funding for Rate 1 centres and licence-exempt centres would increase by 2.5 per cent from July 1, he said.

Kindergartens would also receive an inflation adjustment.

The Government has budgeted $36 million over four years to cover the increases.

The early childhood teacher supply strategy will get $10.6 million over four years.

The capital works budget for the 2002-03 year had $5 million of new funding set aside for new facilities.

- NZPA

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