Specialists join education task force

Two Dunedin education specialists have been selected by the Ministry of Education for a controversial task force, set up to look at early childhood education (ECE) funding.

Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit director, Professor Richie Poulton, and former University of Otago Children's Issues Centre director, Emeritus Professor Anne Smith, have been asked by Minister of Education Anne Tolley to review the effectiveness of ECE spending and suggest ideas about learning.

However, Labour MP Sue Moroney is already casting doubt about the review.

She said she had seen its terms of reference and believed it was "a Trojan horse" for cost-cutting.

"If the Government cuts its investment in early childhood education, that means it will cost families more," Ms Moroney said.

Speaking from Melbourne, Emeritus Prof Smith said "it would seem that way", but declined to comment any further.

Prof Poulton could not be contacted.

Mrs Tolley said the investment in early childhood education next year would total $1.3 billion.

"It's vital this money is well spent to ensure the greatest number of children gain access to ECE and fully benefit from it," she said.

"The previous government's ECE cost blowout saw funding treble, but the number of children in ECE grew by less than 1%.

"We owe it, to New Zealand children, to do better than that - particularly for our Maori and Pacific Island children and those in lower socio-economic backgrounds," she said.

As well as reviewing benefits from Government investments in early childhood education, the task force would consider the efficiency and effectiveness of present ECE expenditure and possible improvements for Maori, Pasifika, and children from low socio-economic backgrounds.

They would develop innovative, cost effective and evidence-based ways to support children's learning in early childhood and the first years of compulsory schooling.

They would also provide recommendations about proposed changes to funding and policy settings for early childhood education, and the costs, benefits and risks.

Emeritus Prof Smith and Prof Poulton will work alongside University of Auckland Public Policy Associate Professor Dr Michael Mintrom, Pacific Guardian Childcare director Ron Viviani, Auckland Kindergarten Association general manager Tanya Harvey, Te Kopae Piripono Immersion Maori Early Childhood Centre director Aroaro Tamaiti, Homai Primary School principal Laurayne Tafa in Manurewa, Hutt City Council business services general manager Claire Johnstone, and Early Childhood Council chief executive Peter Reynolds.

The task force is expected to report back to Mrs Tolley next March.

- john.lewis@odt.co.nz