KEY POINTS:
The Auckland region still has the lowest proportion of preschools opting in to the Government's controversial 20 Hours Free scheme - but new figures reveal the numbers are rising.
Education Minister Chris Carter will unveil data today showing that a year after launch, 75 per cent of eligible early childhood education centres in the Auckland region had taken it up, a jump from the 50 per cent figure a year ago.
The new statistics show that nationally the proportion rose from 62 per cent of eligible centres at launch on July 1, 2007 to 79 per cent.
Mr Carter said it was set to rise further as ABC Learning Centres - the country's largest private early childhood education provider - signalled it would come in from next month.
But the numbers fell short of the Government's "landmark" promise in 2004 that every 3- and 4-year-old in New Zealand would be entitled to 20 hours of free early childhood education.
Mr Carter said most centres had joined despite criticism about the scheme from some.
"When we launched it, the opposition said it would never work and that people would never participate," he said. "
Now we've got every significant private provider - with ABC's admission - involved and we've got of course all kindergartens."
He said the scheme saw a 30 per cent growth in enrolments since it began and 85,000 enrolled children were now benefiting.
National Party early childhood education spokeswoman Paula Bennett said the figures were in line with the party's belief the scheme would not get to all 3- and 4-year-olds.
"But at the end of the day, if it's delivering cheaper childcare and education to some children, then the more that are in the better from a parent's perspective," she said.
"Now they can know under National we are supporting the scheme in its current form. We are supporting 20 hours ECE - we are not calling it free because we don't think it is."
Mr Carter said the rates for 20 Hours Free increased at the start of the month. He gave the example of all day services with 100 per cent registered teachers, which now received $12.26 per hour, up from $10.89 when 20 Hours Free ECE was introduced.
QUEEN CITY
50% of eligible centres opted in by the end of June 2007.
75% of eligible centres opted in by the end of June 2000.
NATIONALLY
62% of eligible centres opted in by the end of June 2007.
79% of eligible centres opted in by the end of June 2008.
SOURCE: Ministry of Education
