The recent proposal by the NSW Liberal Party to drastically cut the number of qualified educators in the early childhood education and care sector has sparked significant concern.
The plan, revealed by frontbencher Jacqui Munro, suggests increasing the educator-to-child ratio to one educator for 50 children.
In a speech in NSW Parliament’s upper house yesterday, Ms Munro bluntly stated that regulations on ratios should change to cut costs in the sector.
“There are ways we can make childcare cheaper. We can change the regulations around educators who are childcare providers,” she said.
“We don’t need five or six highly educated people to look after 50 kids. Maybe we need one.”
This is a stark contrast to the current National Quality Framework, which mandates a maximum ratio of one educator for 10 children over three years old.
“In contrast to the Albanese Labor Government’s commitment to supporting families and children in the crucial early years, the Liberals have revealed their recipe of cuts and chaos in early learning.
United Workers Union National President Jo Schofield criticized the proposal, stating that it would put children at risk and drive educators away from the sector.
“Senior Liberals are contemplating drastic reforms to dumb down the sector, reversing literally decades of progress.
“Peter Dutton has mocked the 15 per cent pay rise for educators, and has stood against Labor reforms to the ECEC sector.
“If this is formal Liberal Party policy he needs to be frank with the Australian public about the cuts he intends to implement.
“The Liberals are showing no respect for Australian children and ignoring the science that shows children in their early years are developing social skills that stand them in good stead for the rest of their lives.
The proposal has been described as a reversal of the progress made by the Labor government in supporting early childhood education and care.
“The difference shown by the Albanese Labor Government’s commitment to early childhood education and care is stark.
“Labor has cut the costs of early childhood education and care by $2700 for the average family, has stabilized the sector by implementing a 15 percent pay rise for educators, and has promised a $1 billion fund to build 160 childcare centers in so-called childcare deserts.”
Reference:
Libs Secret Early Childhood Plan Cuts and Chaos, United Workers Nation
The recent proposal by the NSW Liberal Party to drastically cut the number of qualified educators in the early childhood education and care sector has
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