Nadia Koni (3, left) and Ethan Cameron (3) from the Ako Early Learning Centre hand over a protest poster to Labour MP Clare Curran. Photo by Jane Dawber.
Yesterday the children at the Ako Early Learning Centre in Corstorphine presented the poster of messages to Dunedin South MP Clare Curran.
The messages included statements such as: "Our children need qualified teachers.""I'm going to take it to Wellington and attempt to present it to the minister of education [Anne Tolley]," Ms Curran said.
The cuts significantly reduce funding for early childhood education centres with 80% or more qualified staff.
Dunedin Community Childcare Association director Jo Ellis, who was at the presentation, said she was worried the cuts would mean basic child care would be compromised.
"Prior to the cuts, we had 100 % qualified teachers. Now we will have to rethink what we do," she said.
