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A quota system is to be discussed as the early childcare industry desperately seeks a way to solve the dire shortage of male teachers.
The Early Childcare Council, representing 1000 centres, is pledging that the percentage of male teachers in the industry - below 1 per cent and one of the lowest rates in the world - will improve after a conference in Christchurch this week.
Education Minister Steve Maharey is against the idea of quotas. A spokeswoman said he preferred a system of encouraging men to enter early childcare teaching.
