8. Question No. 8—EducationHon NIKKI KAYE (National—Auckland Central) to the Minister of EducationQuestion No. 8—Education8. Hon NIKKI KAYE (National—Auckland Central) to the Minister of Education: Is he confident that the Government has provided adequate support to education institutions students and educators as a result of COVID-19?Hon TRACEY MARTIN (Associate Minister of Education): on behalf of the Minister of Education: Not only am I confident but considering the extremely unusual circumstances I'm exceptionally proud that after only five weeks since the announcement that we would go into a level 4 lockdown the ministry the teaching profession parents and students have taken us to a point where the majority of students are supported to enable distance learning including the creation of two television channels. I want to acknowledge and thank all those that made this possible. Hon Nikki Kaye: With half of early learning centres indicating they will not open tomorrow what advice has he been given about the expected numbers of children likely to attend early childhood education (ECE) and schools tomorrow?Hon TRACEY MARTIN: As of today my understanding is that there is an estimated 6 percent of children attending who would normally attend ECE. I have on the back of some piece of paper here—there are 381 ECE centres open today; 1322 children are attending. It is estimated that 3 percent of the normal student body will be attending school tomorrow and that today is a teacher-only day. So at the moment there should be no children attending physical school. Hon Nikki Kaye: What evidence can he give that there has been a full and thorough analysis of COVID-19 incidents at schools such as Marist and Pakuranga College? Hon TRACEY MARTIN: I would direct the member probably to send that question to the Minister of Health as—that is to follow up around COVID conditions is a Ministry of Health priority. But if she would like more detail from the Ministry of Education themselves around what cleaning has been done what disinfecting has been done what other parameters have been put in place then I would invite her to put that in writing and I'll make sure she gets that detail. Hon Nikki Kaye: Is he confident that all schools and ECE centres in New Zealand opening both today and tomorrow have adequate access to personal protective equipment (PPE) and flu jabs for educators? Hon TRACEY MARTIN: What I can tell the member is that all criteria by which ECE centres and schools are opening have been created under the advice of the medical experts. So with regard to those who need PPE those who need other supports and other restrictions that have been put into place they have all been created and have been passed out to the sector under the watchful eye of the medical experts. Hon Nikki Kaye: When will the Government announce additional financial support for ECE schools and tertiary institutions given we have situations like students being locked out of their accommodation and charged inappropriate charges because their tertiary institutions can't survive? Hon TRACEY MARTIN: I have asked officials to meet with the New Zealand University Students' Association to look into this issue. They're meeting I understand at their meeting right now. I understand there are varying practices across the country currently around charges at halls of residence at level 4 and level 3 when students are not living in their paid rooms. I've asked for a picture of it all as there are contracts and private provisions involved in some cases that need to be unpacked. In the meantime I'll repeat: the Prime Minister's asked that we show compassion to each other in an unprecedented time.