Early childhood education spending up $55 million

Early childhood education will get an additional $55 million over four years as a result of today's Budget, with the aim of increasing participation and raising quality.

Of that, $39m would go on increased staffing and operational costs, Education Minister Trevor Mallard said today.

Another $4.5m in capital funding over two years would go towards implementing a new funding framework for the sector. A review of sector funding was already under way.

"This additional funding from Budget 2003 is specifically targeted to increase participation and raise the quality of early childhood education," Mr Mallard said.

"We continue to build on the important foundations set by the Government and the early childhood education sector in Nga Huarahi Arataki: Pathways to the Future -- a 10-year strategic plan ... launched last year."

The extra funding, bringing total early childhood education spending to $421m in 2003-4, includes:

* $1.4m over four years for the Maori-Pacific Islands teacher scholarship programmes aimed at increasing the number of qualified Maori and Pacific Islands teachers;

* an extra $1.6m in capital grants for property for licensed early childhood education in areas where there are not enough services;

* $936,000 for Developing Centres Fund so more children can attend playgroups in areas where they cannot go to licensed and chartered services;

* extending the number of incentive grants by 280 over four years to help early childhood services to get staff to upgrade their qualifications; and

* $150,000 over two years for research in kohanga reo, playcentres and licence-exempt playgroups to support quality in parent-led services.

Spending on early childhood education in 2003-04 will be $421 million.

- NZPA, HERALD STAFF