When Early Childhood Education Becomes a Commodity: What’s at Stake for Tamariki?

Dr. Sarah Aiono from the Aotearoa Educators’ Collective talks with OMEP Aotearoa co-presidents Fleur Hohaia-Rollinson and Dr. Lynley Tulloch about OMEP’s submission in response to the Ministerial Advisory Group’s review of early childhood education funding.

The kōrero unpacks the concerns underpinning OMEP’s submission, including the framing of early childhood education as a “merit good” rather than a public good, the implications of increasing privatisation, and what proposed changes could mean for qualified teachers, equitable access, Te Whāriki, Te Tiriti, accountability, and the rights and wellbeing of tamariki.

Together, they consider not only the detail of the funding review, but the bigger question it raises: what do we want early childhood education in Aotearoa to be, and who should it ultimately serve?

To learn more about and support the work of visit OMEP Aotearoa here. Click here to learn more about the Ministerial Advisory Group’s review of the Early Childhood Education sector funding model visit

To see further submissions on ECE funding click here.