Press releases and articles

Early Childhood Education leaders representing three quarters of the 4,579 ECE providers in Aotearoa have joined together in an open letter to the Minister of Education calling on her to rethink the unworkable 20 hours fees free conditions for two year olds and the pay parity consultation.

Early Childhood Education (ECE) sector leaders met with Minister Luxton, in Minister Tinetti’s absence, to discuss their concerns following the budget announcement of 20 hours free ECE for 2-year-olds.

Budget 2023’s promise of significant additional ECE funding has the potential to help many centres avoid financial unviability and hardship, as long as the current 20-hours conditions are kept, prompting the Early Childhood Council to withdraw its urgent legal action.

Teachers in education and care centres must wait to see if the Government will match the 14.5% secondary school teacher salary increases for early learning.

The Education Minister’s decision to defer giving teachers in-principle government support to funding their Pay Equity settlement means increased uncertainty and pressure for Early Childhood employers, who have no such luxury once a settlement occurs.

Politicians contesting the 2023 General Election need to understand the fundamental issues that need their attention if early learning services are to survive, let alone thrive, for the good of children and whānau, says the Early Childhood Council.