ECE Taskforce - Have your say

In October, the Minister of Education set up the ECE Taskforce. Its role is to review the ‘effectiveness and efficiency’ of government spending and to propose new innovative ideas to support children’s learning.

Setting up this Taskforce was an interesting move. It was done without the knowledge of or consultation with the ECE sector and its members were all selected directly by the Minister.

Just five months prior to its establishment, the government announced it was cutting funding to around 2,000 ECE services. This was at the same time the government prioritised increased participation in ECE. Funding has been slashed to any ECE provider that has more than 80% qualified teachers.  This at the same time as the government wants to improve educational achievement. 

The Taskforce has a short timeframe to do its work, reporting in March 2011. So what is the Minister expecting? Is the Taskforce simply going to provide the rationale for the government’s already announced funding cuts and the reduction in quality standards or is it going to genuinely engage with the sector and the public, and endorse a progressive agenda for ECE that will ensure New Zealand’s reputation as a world leader in ECE is maintained?

You can influence the Taskforce’s thinking on ECE, advocating the need to ensure high quality, affordable services are available for all children and families in the future.   

Tell the Taskforce what is important to you. It has invited submissions and has a place for people to comment online.  Go to www.taskforce.ece.govt.nz and have your say.