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Taupo MP, Mark Burton is scathing about the policy and attitude of the National Party towards quality early childhood education - exposed during Parliament's question time.  He was questioning the Minister of Education, Chris Carter on reports dealing with the importance of trained teachers in the early childhood education sector.    

"I was appalled to hear that during a recent visit to an early childhood diploma class in Napier, National MP Craig Foss denigrated the trainees as "glorified babysitters". Craig Foss and National should be ashamed of themselves," said Mark Burton.

During the questions, a report from the New Zealand Childcare Association critical of National's plans to loosen requirements for trained teachers for very young children in early childhood education was also revealed.

"The first 3 years are the most crucial for a child's development.  We know that a quality early childhood education gives our children the best possible chance of succeeding in school and later in life.  So I share the Childcare Association's dismay that a major political party should entertain the idea that children under two need fewer qualified teachers."

"This ‘stone-age' policy and the obvious attitude that underpins it as evidenced by Mr Foss's insulting comment to a group of education professionals, is yet another example of the hidden agenda slipping out of the loose lips of a National MP.  It's yet another example of where the cost cutting of critical services would take place if National ever had the opportunity."

"This stands in stark contrast to the $9.3M boost for 27 early childhood education providers announced today by the Education Minister which forms part of the Labour government's commitment to increasing participation in quality early childhood education and achieving the goals of the ten-year strategic plan for early childhood education," said Mark Burton.

The Ministry of Education's Discretionary Grants Scheme and Establishment Funding initiative will increase provision of early childhood education through the creation of 306 new places in the early childhood services network and help retain 156 places in services that are required to relocate.

These grants provide assistance to eligible community-based groups to plan for and build new early childhood services, extend existing services and meet costs associated with establishing a new service.

Discretionary Grants and Establishment Funding initiatives have provided over $100 million towards early childhood education services since July 2000.

Applications for the second round of the Discretionary Grants Scheme for 2008 close on Friday 24 October 2008. Applications for the second round of Establishment Funding for 2008 close on Friday 31 October 2008. Information and application forms for the Discretionary Grants Scheme and Establishment Funding are available on the Ministry's website.

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