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Early Childhood Education (ECE) in New Zealand - Integrated System -. Integrated system – overview . no distinction between education and care government does not own or operate ECE services centralised authority for education and care areas of central responsibility:
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Early Childhood Education (ECE)in New Zealand - Integrated System -
Integrated system – overview • no distinction between education and care • government does not own or operate ECE services • centralised authority for education and care • areas of central responsibility: • statutory regulation + associated tiers of administration • government funding • curriculum • monitoring
Policy & system development • system development in New Zealand • early 1900s – some government subsidies • 1960 – regulation • 1974 – targeted parent support • 1986 to 1990 – centralisation of subsidies, support and development of quality assurance • 1990 – introduction of new funding and licensing system • 1996 – Te Whāriki (bicultural ECE curriculum) officially introduced • 2005 – major funding system changes
Integration • sequence of integration: • revised education legislation • authority for childcare services transferred to Department of Education from Department of Social Welfare • qualifications benchmark to be phased in • Department of Education becomes Ministry of Education • funding for Māori language services transferred to Ministry of Education from Ministry of Māori Affairs • new funding system introduced
Teachers • the New Zealand Qualifications Authority manages the recognition of standards and qualifications • the New Zealand Teachers Council decides which qualifications can lead to teacher registration in ECE • the funding system is designed to incentivise increases in the number of registered ECE teachers • recently changed from a 100% target of registered teachers (in services led by teachers) by 2012 to 80%
Quality Assurance • 1960 – first quality assurance – a form of licensing related to physical welfare of children existed • late 1980s… – sector advocacy for recognition by government • teacher registration and monitoring through ERO / NZQA / NZTC • 1990 – new funding system and licensing + Statement of Desirable Objectives and Practices • late 1980s – early 1990s – sector concerns about quality • late 1990s – 2009 changes in ECE regulations and relicensing requirements for ECE services are increasingly focused on quality of education
Policy Lessons & evaluation • Policy lessons • main concerns of the sector • mandate for reform • implementation of changes via a 10 year strategic plan • Evaluation of the 10 year strategic plan initiated in 2002: • 1st of 2 parts completed: monitoring of the early stages • integrated approach is successful for delivery of ECE; targeted intervention needed for those not participating