About the seminar:
On Tuesday 14 September ICMEC hosted a seminar with Professor Helen May on the topic of recent policy shifts in early childhood policy in New Zealand. Professor May is Professor of Education and Dean of the College of Education at the University of Otago. During the early 1990s Helen worked with Margaret Carr on the development of Te Whaariki, the first national curriculum guidelines for New Zealand.
Excerpts from the Prof. May's presentation:
In summary, New Zealand's early childhood policy still has a comprehensive infrastructure but the recent cut-backs and cancelations are reminders of the fragility of the gains. There is however, a long history of advocacy in the sector towards realising its 'blue skies' aspirations and working strategically in difficult times on small gains and containment whilst planning afresh opportunities for progressing the broader policy front.