A vision for the teaching profession

The Minister of Education, Hon Anne Tolley, released ‘A Vision for the Teaching Profession’ this morning. This document talks about the integral role of the teaching profession in shaping the next generation of NZ citizens and the need to attract and retain high quality teachers, to provide strong professional leadership, share effective teaching practices and to engage teachers in continual learning.

But apparently that vision only applies to teachers in schools, and not early childhood education. As a result of its recent budget, the government has said it is good enough for 8 out of 10 teachers in the early childhood education sector to be qualified and that if centres are struggling to make ends meet they should charge higher fees or employ untrained staff.

There is no question that teachers in early childhood education services are part of the teaching profession: they are qualified and registered teachers - the same as teachers in schools. What justification can there be to say that teachers working with children before they turn five do not play an ‘integral role in shaping the lives of the next generation’, particularly when the evidence says the complete opposite?

Clare Wells is the chief executive of New Zealand Kindergartens. Passionate about ECE and an advocate of high quality early childhood education services for our youngest citizens, Clare has been influential in shaping the direction of ECE in Aotearoa New Zealand. Clare has extensive experience in early childhood education (ECE) working as a teacher, policy analyst, and government advisor.