Opposition parties join forces to target ECE regulations review

Thursday, 25 July 2024

regulatory review of the early childcare education industry was launched last month. Regulation Minister David Seymour says the level of interest is very high.'/>

Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori are joining forces to stop changes to the early childhood education (ECE), saying its review is “rushed” and will “negatively affect our youngest tamariki”.

It comes as a regulatory review of the early childcare education industry was launched last month.

It was the new Ministry of Regulation’s first and looked at including regulations covering education, health, safety, child protection, food safety, buildings and playgrounds.

Funding would be reviewed separately, Regulation Minister David Seymour said.

Any proposed changes would go in front of Cabinet for final sign off in six months.

In a statement, the opposition parties said they were joining forces to stop the Government’s “dangerous changes” to the sector, saying it was being rushed through, with a bill to be proposed in October.

Along with NZEI, the opposition parties would jointly hold public hearings around Aotearoa to hear from those affected about the changes needed to ensure child learning and development was a priority. They included parents, whānau, teachers and community members and would also hold round table discussions.

Labour’s education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said the Government’s approach put the needs of business and profits above the needs of children.

“There is widespread concern that the Coalition Government’s review will take education for our children backwards,” Tinetti said.

“That is why as an opposition we are uniting to stop the Government’s potentially disastrous changes.”

Te Pāti Māori education spokesperson Tākuta Ferris said the Government was “rushing” through the process. “This Government does not intend to meaningfully consult anyone, so we must contest their agenda.”

Green Party early childhood education spokesperson Teanau Tuiono said teacher, student ratios needed to be improved, teachers trained and qualified, and decently paid to ensure tamariki mokopuna had the best experience and teachers were supported and happy in their jobs.

“This review is not about solving these real issues, but instead it’s about pushing through changes to allow big businesses to cut costs and drive down employment conditions for workers,” Tuiono said.

Parents, teachers and experts earlier raised concerns children were being used as a “political football” and “easy target” for the “wrecking ball” aimed at the early childhood education sector by Seymour.

In his own statement, shortly after the opposition parties’, Seymour said he was asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the review by a further two weeks after more than 740 submissions had been made in the first 20 days.

“The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been having, I know people are keen to have a bit more time to have their say,” he said.

'Parents are saying they want more types of early childhood education, easier access, and more affordable options. Some parents also want fewer children per teacher.

“Teachers have said they would like to spend less time on compliance-based paperwork that does not benefit the children’s learning or care. They have also said they want a limit on group sizes, and fewer children per adult.”

Providers said inconsistently applied regulatory requirements and a lack of clarity between requirements and guidance was creating an unnecessary burden.

Seymour said it was telling ”no stakeholders think the current regulatory system is working“ and encouraged anyone interested to have their say before the end of August.