Reality of less funding hits home

The reality of less funding to early childhood education services has hit home with the first decrease in funding coming through this week. Services receive funding from the Government four months in advance so the payment on Monday included the reduced funding rates that come into effect in February.

The Government expects services to cut the number of qualified teachers and/or increase parent fees in order to make up the funding shortfall.  So the options are to reduce quality or make families pay more. That is simply not good enough – our children deserve better.

In increasing numbers around the country, people are taking to the street to demonstrate how strongly they feel about the impact of the funding cuts and the Government’s decision to reduce its investment in ECE. Over 2,000 people joined a rally in Tauranga a few weeks ago. Rallies are also planned in Nelson and Dunedin this weekend and there will be a picnic on the lawn at Parliament on 20 November. Activities are being planned in other centres and we can expect to see more as we move into election year.

At a time when the Government is looking to increase participation in ECE and to lift education achievement, the decision to cut funding to the very part of the economy that can deliver those results is just baffling.