Media Statement
For immediate release
27 May 2004
Budget 2004: Early Childhood Education FundingChildren the winners says New Zealand Kindergartens
Children under five are set to be the winners this budget with significant additional funding announced for the early childhood sector says New Zealand Kindergartens.
Kindergartens are the largest national provider of early childhood education for children aged three to five with an enrolment of around 45 thousand children.
In the budget announcement today, children under five will be entitled to twenty free hours of early childhood education. The free hours are available to all children attending a kindergarten or community based, not for profit early childhood education centre. The entitlement will take effect from July 2007.
"Over the years thousands of New Zealand children have had access to affordable, quality early childhood education at kindergarten. Now parents will have even more choice of quality, affordable early childhood education for their children - everyone wins," said Sharon Walch, National spokesperson for New Zealand Kindergartens.
"We are thrilled the Government is honoring their commitment to the sector and acknowledging how important quality early childhood education is to families."
"The funding creates more exciting opportunities for Kindergartens to continue to focus on providing a dynamic, friendly, learning environment for children," she said.
Ends
For more information contact:
Sharon Walch
National Spokesperson
NZ Kindergartens
Mobile 021 634 950
Telephone 06 835 7890
Fax 06 835 7886
Email
New Zealand Kindergartens Incorporated www.nzkindergarten.org.nz is the national organisation representing over 400 kindergartens throughout New Zealand.
Kindergarten provides high quality early childhood education for children aged three to five and employs more than 1700 qualified, registered early childhood teachers.
NZ Kindergartens is the national voice of kindergarten advocating excellence for children's early learning