An 11.7% increase in the cost of early childhood education
has put increased pressure on the family budget.
Statistics New Zealand consumer price index figures show ECE
costs increased 11.7% in the year to June, while primary and
secondary costs increased 5.1% and tertiary 6.4%.
The New Zealand Education Institute (NZEI) said the increased
costs were due to Government funding cuts in last year's
Budget.
The $280 million cut, over four years, meant funding was only
provided for up to 80% of a centre's qualified staff, forcing
many of those with 100% qualified staff to increase parent
fees.
Dunedin Kindergarten Association general manager Christine
Gale said the association lost $1.2 million, or 15%, of its
funding in February and had increased its fees by 25%.
"For some families, any increase is significant because they
are on such tight budgets," she said.
While parents understood the increases were necessary, for
others it meant reducing their children's hours in ECE to
maintain budgets.
University of Otago Childcare Association director Kay
Lloyd-Jones said fees in its four centres increased 25% and
about 25% of parents had decided to reduce their children's
education hours.
NZEI national secretary Paul Goulter said families should not
be forced to sacrifice their children's education to make
ends meet.
"An 11.7% increase in the cost of early childhood education
is significant and represents one of the largest increases
across all the goods and services measured [in the CPI]. What
it means is that early childhood costs are contributing
significantly to overall inflation.
"The tragedy is that many families faced with trying to pay
for the basics will be forced to take their children out of
essential early childhood education because they can no
longer afford it.
"It's not a choice the Government should be forcing on
families and it goes against its own rhetoric of trying to
increase participation in early childhood education,
especially for children in low income areas," he said.
The union called on the Government to reinstate funding to
ECE services, commit to a target of 100% qualified staff, and
invest 1% of GDP in the sector.
- ellie.constantine@odt.co.nz
A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.