Teaching Council calls for Minister of Education to refuse to lower education quality in ECE

Wellington, 12 February 2025 - The Teaching Council acknowledges the Ministry for Regulation’s Early Childhood Education (ECE) regulatory sector review published in December 2024 and has signalled concerns with the proposal to have less qualified teachers working with young children to prepare them for school.

The Teaching Council welcomes the Ministry of Regulation’s Early Childhood Education (ECE) regulatory sector review, which we believe contains many recommendations that may help streamline aspects of the compliance requirements for ECE teachers and ECE services.

As the professional body for teachers, we are committed to improving the quality of teaching and learning in Aotearoa for all children and young people. We are concerned that the review recommends significant changes which could result in negatively impacting how the learning needs of children are met and what involvement parents, whānau and caregivers have in their children’s early education.

Of particular concern is the recommendation to remove requirements for qualified teachers. This could significantly affect teacher retention and the overall quality of early childhood education. This ignores the value that a registered teacher brings to influence the educational purpose of ECE. Qualified ECE teachers are highly skilled professionals who hold a teaching qualification. They are far more than glorified babysitters. ECE teachers play a crucial role in educating young children, shaping their early development and learning experiences.

Without a strong focus on meeting young children’s learning needs, these changes risk undermining educational outcomes at primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. They could also create a two-tier system where only families that can afford higher costs receive better learning opportunities.

Research shows that early childhood is a crucial period for developing cognitive and executive brain functions, which have lasting impacts on learning, health, and social outcomes. Te Whāriki (Ministry of Education, 2017), the ECE curriculum, supports this progression, helping young children develop self-regulation, relationship-building skills, and phonemic awareness—all essential for future learning.

The development of oracy (oral communication) and oral comprehension is fundamental to early development, particularly at a time when oracy rates are declining nationally and internationally. A growing gap between high-income and low-income families in pre-school oracy further highlights the need for strong teaching support in ECE.

For these reasons, the Teaching Council believes more effort should be directed toward strengthening the teaching workforce and making the best use of Aotearoa’s Registered and Certificated teachers. Supporting and retaining qualified teachers remains our priority and we call for the Minister of Education to step in and protect the role of ECE to be about education and not just care.

(*Please note, if taking quotes from this press release, attribute them to Teaching Council CE, Lesley Hoskin.)

For more information:
Holly Scotson – Media
Phone: 021 191 8928
Email: media@teachingcouncil.nz