Childcare qualifications for gradual upgrade

Press, 15 August 1988, Page 8

Childcare qualifications for gradual upgrade

PA New Plymouth Moves to improve the minimum standards of qualification for childcare work will be gradual, according to the Minister of Social Welfare, Dr Cullen. Speaking at the twentyfifth annual Childcare Association conference in Dunedin, Dr Cullen said childcare workers and employers were concerned about the status of their qualifications, now recognised for working in childcare and for the payment of trained staff grants.

Dr Cullen was representing the Minister of Education, Mr Lange, at the conference.

He said people with a two-year training qualification would be accorded equivalence with the new training. “There is already a precedent for this in the education sector, set when primary teacher training was extended to three years,” he said. Those whose training

had been shorter than the equivalent of two years full-time training' would be credited with an additional year. “They will then be able to take further training from a range of possibilities to convert or upgrade to gain equivalency. “It is anticipated that these additional training requirements will be met through a field-based delivery system.” “The qualifications of those working in childcare will continue to be recognised until at least the mid-19905.” Dr Cullen said those employed in the childcare field could be reassured there would be no sudden moves which would disadvantage them or reduce the pool of trained staff. "Childcare organisations will be consulted and involved in the establishment of procedures for the upgrading of qualifications,” he said. The Government did not endorse the idea that

early childhood care was the sole responsibility of parents, 24 hours a day, and that mothers who placed their children in pre-school care were somehow neglecting their responsibilities.

“The Government does see early childhood care and education as having priority among its social programmes and acknowledges that there are some real difficulties for childcare centres in their financial arrangements.”

Dr Cullen said that was why a working group on early childhood care and education had been set up to report back to the Cabinet social equity committee.

The group presents its report to Cabinet members today and has concentrated much of its activity on the question of funding and looking at the role and responsibility of the Government in children’s development, early childhood care, and education services.