KEY POINTS:
Most Auckland kindergartens think the Government's plan for 20 hours of free early childhood education a week is impractical - even though they support the idea in principle.
The Auckland Kindergarten Association hinted at its concerns over the so-called "free hours" yesterday after National Party education spokeswoman Katherine Rich taunted Labour in Parliament with claims that its plans would be rejected.
The association, which represents 107 kindergartens, has made a decision on the scheme, but is keeping tight-lipped until it can inform parents.
"We support the policy, it's a good idea, but the big thing is the optional charges - it's not practical and not realistic," said association general manager Tanya Harvey.
The Government is proposing paying between $4.09 and $10.60 a child an hour for centres that join the scheme. Centres cannot treat the money as a subsidy and cannot penalise parents who do not pay extra optional charges.
But a survey of 615 providers carried out by the Early Childhood Council - a body for mainly private centres - showed only one in five had committed to the policy.
"If the Government weren't so staunch on the free label, they would get the 100 per cent buy-in. But at the moment that's unrealistic," Mrs Harvey said.
"The Government needs to realise it's a subsidy and parents will be charged a top-up fee because parents don't want minimum standards."
She said association centres operating under the present system - including parent donations - would receive more ($6.30 an hour) than under the 20-hour scheme ($6.21 an hour, minus GST).
"That's the dilemma we've got."
The National Party kept the Government under pressure in Parliament yesterday, labelling the scheme a "discount".
"What would the minister's reaction be if the Auckland Kindergarten Association ... announces it will not be implementing the policy, because by accepting it they will be worse off?" asked Katherine Rich.
Labour MP Trevor Mallard, speaking on behalf of Education Minister Steve Maharey, said the reaction would be "disbelief".
"They are people who know that getting this additional money ... is in the interests of the parents represented by that association."
Afterwards, Ms Rich said the Government had been disingenuous with its election promise of free early childhood education. "The Government gained huge support for this policy, but the political spin and the reality are quite different."
