Pic cap: St Mary’s Preschool ECE teacher Leigh Norton says that children’s futures, and the future of early childhood education, is at risk with current Government offers. Photo/William Woodworth
Worried preschool teachers are taking action as concerns grow over children being let down by a lack of funding.
One hundred Early Childhood Education providers went on strike nationwide last week.
And future strikes have not been ruled out.
Three board run Blenheim centre staff joined the strike for the first time, sparked by a bid to see more pay parity.
St Mary’s Preschool early childhood educator Leigh Norton says that pre-schools are feeling a huge pinch from the top down.
“The first 1000 days of a child’s life are the most formative and for many kids, it is spent in Early Childhood Education.
“ECE gives kids the skills to co-operate with each other – it’s so much more than babysitting, because we’re all registered, educated teachers to the same level as primary or secondary school teachers but don’t have the pay parity that kindergarten teachers have.
Negotiations between Early Childhood Education Collective Agreement signatories and the Government stalled due to disagreements on the levels of funding needed.
Non-profit early childhood education centres need more money to function properly, and provide free childcare education hours, says Leigh.
If the situation doesn’t change prices will go up and some families will no longer be able to send their children.
“If the current funding propositions were accepted many of St Mary’s kids couldn’t attend because we would have to put up our prices per hour and we don’t want money to be a limiting factor to education.
“There’s lots of negativity in the industry because we love the job and the kids but it’s unsustainable – and the vicious cycle of low support meaning less teachers is already happening because teachers aren’t prioritised.”
St Mary’s Preschool is one of three board run, non-for-profit centres in Blenheim with their staff of seven teachers having the support of their board to go on strike.
NZEI President, Mark Potter, says ECE funding and policy settings have been unstable through successive governments which has had a disproportionate impact on collective agreements.
“This strike is not an action that members take lightly, but they have been left with no option. ECE kaiako are passionate about offering the best learning environment for our Tamariki.
“We are asking the government to deliver additional funding that prioritises quality, supports full pay parity; and holds tamariki and whānau at its heart.”
Centres are waiting to see what the next offer on the table is and further strike action has not been ruled out.