Parents of pre-schoolers will find out today whether
their early childhood education centre (ECE) has raised its
fees because of a government funding cut.
The Labour party says many are going to face increases of
between $20 and $45 a week after the Government cut $400
million from the sector, paying for 80 percent qualified
staff instead of 100 percent.
The Childcare Association said last night the decision had
cost about 2000 centres between $20,000 and $50,000 a year.
"Centres were left with no option but to raise fees to
parents, or reduce their numbers of qualified staff,"
association chief executive Nancy Bell said.
Labour leader Phil Goff said a survey of 435 centres showed
fees were likely to rise between $2 and $80 a week, with most
in the $20 to $45 range.
"Many families are already struggling to cope with
skyrocketing grocery bills, petrol and power price rises and
now they're facing an increase in the cost of educating their
pre-schoolers," he said.
Mr Goff said a Labour government would restore the funding,
although it would take time.
Education Minister Anne Tolley said $1.4 billion was going
into ECE this year, more than any other government had ever
put in.
"We are bringing spending under control, while targeting
funding at the children who need it the most," she said.
"It makes no sense that ECE funding has trebled over the last
five years, while the number of children starting school with
some form of ECE has increased by only around 1 percent."
Mrs Tolley said taxpayers were subsidising ECE centres at an
average of $7600 per child, per year.
That compared with an average $5528 for a primary school
student and $6733 for a student at secondary school.
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