Minister for Early Childhood Education David Seymour held a media briefing yesterday announcing that a raft of cuts and changes to ECE regulations will be implemented by the end of the year. Kindergartens Aotearoa has issued a media release that opposes government putting business interests before children in early childhood education:

Kindergartens Aotearoa is concerned about threats to quality responsive early childhood education that put babies and young children first, after the government announced reduced regulations this week.

In announcing changes, the Minister for Early Childhood Education David Seymour focused on making it “easier to do business” the “thriving market” for early childhood education, and compliance costs, rather than on children and families or education.

Kindergartens Aotearoa says the regulations that cost business are those that benefit children and communities – qualified teachers, good ratios, and safety requirements.

The early years are the most important and what children need is high quality education and care provided by skilled knowledgeable and caring adults – not a “thriving market” for business.  

Amanda Coulston of Kindergartens Aotearoa says the announcement does nothing to reassure families teachers and the sector that the government is committed to high quality early childhood services.

“The government plans to remove most of the licensing criteria, which ensure that children’s language and culture is recognised, that their family is involved in the programme, and that parents are kept informed about their child’s learning.”

The government has also given no commitment to retain current levels of teacher qualifications, after the regulatory review suggested reductions for some services including Pasifika and rural services.

When the government introduces a bill later this year to remove regulations, Kindergartens Aotearoa will be encouraging families and communities to have their say about the importance of quality early childhood education.

Kindergartens Aotearoa represents six regional kindergarten associations around the country that operate more than 250 of New Zealand’s kindergartens, catering for 12,000 children each day, from Auckland’s North Shore to South Otago.