EXCERPTS
The government's funding cuts to early childhood education (ECE) are another blow to families already struggling with rising costs and static pay.
The funding cuts will affect around 2,000 early childhood centres and most are expected to pass on the budgetary loss by increasing their fees.
"Thousands of working families across the country will feel the impact of these cuts. For many it will be the last straw on top of GST, rising food and fuel prices, hikes on road charges and ACC levies," says PSA National Secretary Brenda Pilott.
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"The government estimates it will save more than $100 million from these cuts but the long term-costs to society could be much more.
"The benefits of ECE will go along with the funding cuts so the savings are short-sighted.
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New Zealand spends just 0.4 percent of GDP on early childhood education; that's well below the OECD average and 0.6 percent less than the recommended spend on ECE by UNICEF.
- reprinted from Voxy. co.nz