
The Minister of Education, Hon Chris Carter, has responded to concerns about funding for Playcentre. Playcentre receives disproportionately low funding compared to "professional" early childhood services. However, increasing compliance and administration is taking up increasing amounts of time for Playcentre parent volunteers. Parents Choice believes that parent-led Early Childhood Education (ECE) should be valued at least as much as those providers who earn a living or make a business out of early childhood education services.
The response provided by the Minister is as follows:
"Different types of services are funded at different levels because they have different operating costs...Kindergartens have high proportions of registered teachers, usually 100% and therefore can access the higher funding rates."
"Families who use teacher-led services face high fees, which can be a barrier to their children's participation in ECE. Higher funding rates for teacher-led services aim to reduce this cost barrier for parents. In Playcentres parents provide a high level of voluntary input. Higher subsidies for Playcentres would not necessarily increase participation. I can assure you government continues to support the work of Playcentre."
First we appreciate that Mr Carter replied to our concerns. We also accept that the government wishes to encourage participation in ECE. however, in our view parents who volunteer their time to look after their own children should not be discriminated against, in the allocation of government funding.