English Bill: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
English Bill: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:619;Page:14609] 
10.  
Hon BILL ENGLISH (National—Clutha-Southland) 
 to the  
Minister of Education 
: How many early childhood services are at risk of closure because of new teacher qualification requirements and how many children could be affected by those closures? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD (Minister of Education) 
: 
 I thank the member for raising this issue by way of a press statement this afternoon nearly a week after it was in the mainstream media. I am advised that the majority of centres—about 85 percent of the 2515 teacher-led centres—already meet the standards well in advance of the deadline while others have been given dedicated assistance to help them to meet the target by next year. The centres were first advised of the new requirement 4 years ago and as the member is aware there is some flexibility in the licensing arrangements. 
Hon Bill English 
: Why is the Minister so squeamish about answering the question directly and can he confirm that in fact he has received reports from the Ministry of Education that up to 400 early childhood centres are at risk of closure on 1 January 2005 and that that will affect 13000 children who may have no early childhood care to go to? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: If the member had read the reports that have been given to him he would know that that is not correct as there is discretion and flexibility in the licensing arrangements. I suggest that the member gets someone to read the rest of the reports to him. 
Helen Duncan 
: Why has the Government introduced the new early childhood teacher qualification requirements? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: Research shows that teacher qualifications are the key to delivering quality early childhood education. Research also tells us that—he still has not taken his pills— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: That comment is not to be made again. The Minister will withdraw and apologise. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: I withdraw and apologise. Research also tells us that regular participation in high-quality early childhood education makes a noticeable and positive impact on a student’s educational success later on. That is why we made the decision in 2000 to introduce the new qualification requirements. That decision has been widely welcomed by the sector which of course knows quite a lot more about it than the semi-deranged Opposition member. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: No I am not going to have that comment being made. The Minister knows that it is out of order. He will stand withdraw and apologise. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: I withdraw and apologise. 
Bernie Ogilvy 
: Does the Minister agree that a policy of grandparenting for the competent and experienced group of unqualified early childhood teachers is a common-sense approach in order to institute qualifications that recognise the ability of older practitioners and the teacher shortage in the sector as well as the Minister’s preference for qualified teachers; if not why not? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: There is nothing that indicates that those teachers cannot teach. All that the Government is requiring is that one person in each centre should be properly qualified next year. 
Hon Bill English 
: Can the Minister confirm that reports from the Ministry of Education tell him that up to 400 centres could close affecting 13000 children that the ministry messed up its calculations of how many teachers would be required and that its management strategies to deal with 400 potential closures are “inadequate” and what will he do to guarantee to parents that 400 centres will not close and they will have childcare centres they can return to in the new year? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: For the third time I refer the member to the fact that there is discretion on the part of the Secretary for Education in those matters. 
Hon Bill English 
: Could the Minister then confirm to the House that essentially he has announced a back-down today and he will not be enforcing the regulation on 1 January 2005? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: I do not enforce the regulations.