Childcare association 'appalled' with Nats' education policy

The New Zealand Childcare Association (NZCA) is dismayed by the National Party's early education policy to drop the 2012 teacher qualification targets for two-year-olds.

The Government's early childhood strategic plan has all teachers qualified and registered by 2012.

However, the National Party has said after 2012 it would only ensure teacher-led early childhood centres were staffed by at least 50 percent qualified teachers.

National released details of its early education policy yesterday.

It said it would retain and improve the Goverment's 20 Hours-Free early childhood education scheme.

The scheme pays for 20 hours of educational childcare a week for pre-schoolers.

Under a National goverment, it would be renamed 20 Hours ECE (early childhood education) instead of 20 Hours Free.

National criticised the scheme when it was introduced in July last year and voted against it.

NZCA chief executive Nancy Bell said under two-year-old enrolments were the fastest growing age group and required the very best qualified teachers.

The current requirement was that 50 percent of teachers were qualified and registered, she said.

Many services were already well beyond 50 percent and were confident they would achieve 100 percent by 2012, said Ms Bell.