NZEI Te Riu Roa, the country’s largest education union, welcomes the $1.8 billion investment in Budget 2023 to fund full pay parity for early childhood education (ECE) teachers and the extension of 20hrs free ECE to all 2-year-olds.
Geena Fagan, an NZEI Te Riu Roa national leader and an early childhood teacher from Otago, said that the boost in parity funding to full kindergarten teacher rates was a historic win for ECE teachers, who had been fighting for parity for three decades.
She said the extension of 20 hours ECE free to 2-year-olds would improve access and make ECE more affordable for whānau.
"Full parity gives us the foundation for our next steps in ECE. We're excited to now work together for a fair pay agreement that will lock in this win. Improving teacher to child ratios is the next significant goal for ECE teachers to ensure all tamariki get the best start in life."
Recent media releases
-
Early childhood teachers hold public meetings over concern for cuts
Early childhood teachers are calling on their local MPs and communities to support them in their fight to protect their sector from potential pay cuts and further concerning…
-
Mandated single approach to reading will not work
The union for primary teachers, NZEI Te Riu Roa, says that it’s dangerous for politicians to be mandating just one single approach to the art of teaching reading.
-
No easy fixes for education without resourcing to back it up
Changes to education need to be properly resourced if they have any chance of succeeding, NZEI Te Riu Roa said today.