Trevor Mallard: Giving our children the best start in life

Trevor Mallard

Labour's commitment to education is long-standing. It has changed little from the vision put forward by Peter Fraser and Clarence Beeby in the late 1930s.

Labour believes that every New Zealander is entitled to access quality public education of the highest standard, throughout their lives. Quality education ensures that every Kiwi, regardless of who they are and where they come from, can achieve their full potential and contribute to New Zealand's society and economy.

By 2009 overall funding for education will have increased by 62 per cent since Labour came into office. In early childhood education, our investment will have increased by a massive 140 per cent since 1999. It has more than doubled in the first five years, and there is more to come.

Let me give you a cast iron guarantee. Under Labour there will be no cuts to spending on vital public services like education and health.

By contrast, National have said they will make $3.5 billion worth of cuts to pay for their tax cuts for the rich. In addition, they will borrow another $3.5 billion, leaving a mountain of debt for future generations.

In the words of Sam Neill, "only a fool or a fraudster would tell you that you can have better health and education AND give more tax cuts to the rich".

New Zealand has moved on. We're moving forward as a country and I know that most Kiwis don't want to put all that progress at risk.

Research tells us that early childhood education involving qualified teachers makes a significant difference to the way children develop and achieve later in their lives. It is the first stepping-stone on the path to lifelong learning.

This is why Labour is committed to providing all New Zealand children with access to high-quality early childhood education that parents can afford - it is the firm footing children need to thrive at school and beyond.

On that note, I must remind you of what my opponents have promised to do to early childhood education. National has pledged to scrap our Government's commitment to the 20 hours free policy, meaning that thousands of families and their children will miss out entirely.

Putting kids in suburban backyards with a handful of other children and without qualified and trained teachers - as National plans will do - is a great leap backwards.

It will destroy all the gains we are making and will make children vulnerable to abuse and poor-quality care in unlicensed and unregulated situations. It will result in the sort of poor educational outcomes that New Zealanders have rejected for years - because Dr Brash sees children purely as a deductible business expense.

National's policy gives with one hand and takes with the other. Not only will the 20 hours free be cut, but we also suspect they intend to stop the expansion of services that we have committed to help funding, and that they would also scrap the other support we give services to drive up quality.

You will see professional development, exemplars, ICT and other resources gone by lunchtime. You will probably see the 900 scholarships we are giving for teacher trainees in early childhood education gone also.

In contrast, I am sure I do not need to reiterate my own and the Labour-led Government's continued commitment to our youngest children, as we continue our focus on increasing participation in quality, affordable early childhood education.

Early childhood education is a great example of how our policies are working. Over the past five and a half years Labour has ensured that early childhood education has the same standing as other parts of the education sector.

Anyone who suggests that we should return to the policies that saw early childhood education as little more than childminding does so at the peril not only of their own generation, but at the peril of the next.

The Labour-led Government will spend approximately $523 million funding early childhood education in the 2005-06 financial year, an increase of $234 million or 81 per cent since 1999-2000.

Our commitment to early childhood education is reflected in the Early Childhood Strategy, Nga Huarahi Arataki - Pathways to the Future - which sets out goals for participation, quality and collaborative engagement.

We're making great progress. Participation has increased, particularly among Maori and Pacific Island communities, new teacher qualification requirements are being progressively implemented, and the new funding system that came into effect on April 1 this year is ensuring that centres that offer quality education are properly resourced.

We are committed to investing in what works in education, not what sounds good in theory. No one can doubt the Government's commitment to education has been real, substantial and continuous after a decade of under-funding by National.

Over the next term of Government, Labour intends to continue along the same pathway, focusing on increasing participation in quality, affordable early childhood education.

We will work with existing early childhood providers to extend services, by either growing their centres where appropriate or establishing additional centres on other sites. Employers, particularly in the state sector, will be encouraged to establish early childhood education and care facilities on work sites.

Labour will extend the highly successful scholarship scheme for early childhood teacher trainees, so there are sufficient quality teachers to staff the additional services.

The flagship promise of Labour's early childhood education policy, which I know you will all be aware of, is 20 hours free early childhood education a week for 3 and 4-year-olds in licensed, teacher-led services from 2007.

This policy underpins Labour's commitment to ensuring every single child has the chance for the best possible start to life - giving children access to good quality and affordable early education is a critical part of this commitment.

Our policy benefits everyone, not just working parents. The focus is on quality education, not simply child minding.

Under Labour, families accessing these services will be around $90 a week better off (or $4680 per year) for each child as it reaches the eligible age.

In Government, Labour has delivered for early childhood education. We know how vital quality early foundations are. We know early childhood educators play a vital role. We also know that Government has a lead role to play in early childhood education, and we have not shrunk from that responsibility.

The coming election provides a stark choice for voters. We can continue towards a better education system for our kids, towards addressing under-achievement, towards a more highly skilled and educated society. Or we can return to policies that are driven more by ideology than sense.

For those who are genuinely committed to education, Labour is the only real option.

* Trevor Mallard is the Education Minister. This is an edited transcript.