Latest news with #earlyChildhoodEducation
RNZ News
6 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
ECE centres struggling with underfunding, teacher shortages
Early childhood teachers and managers have said centres are struggling with teacher shortages, low enrolments and insufficient government funding. Some are alarmed by surprise changes to pay parity, and they are worried about what might come next. Education correspondent, John Gerritsen reports.
RNZ News
6 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Pay changes add more anxiety for ECE sector, struggling with teacher shortages
Photo: 123rf Early childhood teachers and managers say centres are struggling with teacher shortages, low enrolments and inadequate government funding. Some are alarmed by surprise changes to pay parity - the system for giving centres higher subsidies if they pay qualified teachers the same as kindergarten and school teachers. At Aro Valley Preschool in central Wellington senior teacher Bridget Mickelson-Warmouth said the government's half-a-percent funding increase for next year's subsidies and recent changes to pay parity were making people nervous. "Funding is always a big key for community centres. Because we're not-for-profit, all the money that comes in goes back in to making sure that teachers are well-paid, that we're well-resourced, and that we can maintain low ratios and small groups," she said. "It's quite unnerving to find out what's going to happen within our funding space." Aro Valley Preschool senior teacher Bridget Mickelson-Warmouth says it's "unnerving" thinking about funding for the sector. Photo: RNZ / John Gerritsen Mickelson-Warmouth said community-run centres were especially vulnerable to pay parity changes because they tended to hire experienced, qualified teachers who were paid at the top of the scale. She said last year's decision to cut relief teachers from the scheme had already had a negative effect. "We actually are finding it harder to get relievers as relief teachers either go into permanent work if they can find it or they can leave the sector altogether. We've had some fantastic relievers recently who are currently retraining in other areas and are going out of early childhood due to the inability to get work or the work that they can get is in places that they don't want to be," she said. Some early childhood centre owners have complained that pay parity was hard to afford because the government funding that supported it was inadequate. Despite that, the number of centres opting into the highest tier of the scheme - which obliged them to offer pay-parity rates to the most experienced staff - grew from about 1000 in 2023 to 1484 in March this year. Auckland early childhood centre owner Vince Grgicevich said pay parity was tricky when it was introduced several years ago, but his biggest challenges were competition and parents keeping children home when they worked from home on Mondays and Fridays. Grgicevich said centres tended to have fewer children attending on Mondays and Fridays, which saved parents money but made early childhood centre staffing difficult. "Numbers have improved a little bit but they are still not back up to where we used to sit at 90-95 percent across the board. Our centres sit anywhere between 70 and 80 percent so we're okay, but a centre really needs to be relatively full to make good money," he said. Grgicevich said many centres were not at 70 percent occupancy and those in areas where parents could not afford the fees were struggling. "I know a lot of South Auckland centres really do struggle because you've got to charge a minimum of $300 for a baby and $200 for an over-three and a lot of parents can't even afford that," he said. He said he recently sold a centre because there were too many other centres in the area. Education Ministry figures showed children's participation in early learning increased last year after slumping in 2021-22. Nearly 81 percent of four-year-olds were attending for 10 hours or more a week last year, up from 74 percent in 2023 but still shy of the pre-Covid high of 84 percent. That translated into a percentage-point increase in occupancy to about 78 percent across the education and care sector but in Auckland it was 76 percent. Meanwhile, Grgicevich said he was not expecting any relief from action stemming from last year's review of ECE regulations. "That regulatory stuff, I personally think is a waste of time. We're inherently safe in what we do. There has to be some checks in place and they weren't costing us anything. My annual regulatory budget was low. If I spent two or three thousand dollars a year, that would be it," he said. Kidsfirst Kindergartens is a non-profit organisation with about 64 kindergartens in Canterbury, the West Coast and Central Otago. Its chief executive Sherryll Wilson said kindergarten teachers were state sector employees, so their pay parity with school teachers was negotiated directly with the government, unlike other early childhood teachers. Even so, she said she was worried by the government's changes to pay parity and to early childhood regulations. "It feels like for early childhood we are having the same challenges as what we've had years ago. The pay equity, pay parity, teacher supply. It feels like we never get to the stage where we can future-proof," she said. "It feels like we're just going back in time and having the same arguments all over again." Wilson said enrolments were good across the organisation's kindergartens but there were more centres competing for enrolments. "In the past we might have had three or four really strong ECE services, not all kindergartens, but now we've got 10 services in the same area all trying to capture the same children," she said. Wilson said one of the biggest challenges for the organisation was uncertainty about government funding from year to year was challenging. "For a non-profit organisation like Kidsfirst, our greatest source of revenue is government funding, we're heavily reliant on it and we suffer from the whims of whoever is in power at any given time in terms of the funding we receive," she said. Wilson said the supply of qualified teachers was a problem, especially in the regions, and there was a sense of exhaustion and frustration in the sector.
RNZ News
6 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Seymour pay changes add more anxiety for ECE sector
Photo: 123rf Early childhood teachers and managers say centres are struggling with teacher shortages, low enrolments and inadequate government funding. Some are alarmed by surprise changes to pay parity - the system for giving centres higher subsidies if they pay qualified teachers the same as kindergarten and school teachers. At Aro Valley Preschool in central Wellington senior teacher Bridget Mickelson-Warmouth said the government's half-a-percent funding increase for next year's subsidies and recent changes to pay parity were making people nervous. "Funding is always a big key for community centres. Because we're not-for-profit, all the money that comes in goes back in to making sure that teachers are well-paid, that we're well-resourced, and that we can maintain low ratios and small groups," she said. "It's quite unnerving to find out what's going to happen within our funding space." Aro Valley Preschool senior teacher Bridget Mickelson-Warmouth says it's "unnerving" thinking about funding for the sector. Photo: RNZ / John Gerritsen Mickelson-Warmouth said community-run centres were especially vulnerable to pay parity changes because they tended to hire experienced, qualified teachers who were paid at the top of the scale. She said last year's decision to cut relief teachers from the scheme had already had a negative effect. "We actually are finding it harder to get relievers as relief teachers either go into permanent work if they can find it or they can leave the sector altogether. We've had some fantastic relievers recently who are currently retraining in other areas and are going out of early childhood due to the inability to get work or the work that they can get is in places that they don't want to be," she said. Some early childhood centre owners have complained that pay parity was hard to afford because the government funding that supported it was inadequate. Despite that, the number of centres opting into the highest tier of the scheme - which obliged them to offer pay-parity rates to the most experienced staff - grew from about 1000 in 2023 to 1484 in March this year. Auckland early childhood centre owner Vince Grgicevich said pay parity was tricky when it was introduced several years ago, but his biggest challenges were competition and parents keeping children home when they worked from home on Mondays and Fridays. Grgicevich said centres tended to have fewer children attending on Mondays and Fridays, which saved parents money but made early childhood centre staffing difficult. "Numbers have improved a little bit but they are still not back up to where we used to sit at 90-95 percent across the board. Our centres sit anywhere between 70 and 80 percent so we're okay, but a centre really needs to be relatively full to make good money," he said. Grgicevich said many centres were not at 70 percent occupancy and those in areas where parents could not afford the fees were struggling. "I know a lot of South Auckland centres really do struggle because you've got to charge a minimum of $300 for a baby and $200 for an over-three and a lot of parents can't even afford that," he said. He said he recently sold a centre because there were too many other centres in the area. Education Ministry figures showed children's participation in early learning increased last year after slumping in 2021-22. Nearly 81 percent of four-year-olds were attending for 10 hours or more a week last year, up from 74 percent in 2023 but still shy of the pre-Covid high of 84 percent. That translated into a percentage-point increase in occupancy to about 78 percent across the education and care sector but in Auckland it was 76 percent. Meanwhile, Grgicevich said he was not expecting any relief from action stemming from last year's review of ECE regulations. "That regulatory stuff, I personally think is a waste of time. We're inherently safe in what we do. There has to be some checks in place and they weren't costing us anything. My annual regulatory budget was low. If I spent two or three thousand dollars a year, that would be it," he said. Kidsfirst Kindergartens is a non-profit organisation with about 64 kindergartens in Canterbury, the West Coast and Central Otago. Its chief executive Sherryll Wilson said kindergarten teachers were state sector employees, so their pay parity with school teachers was negotiated directly with the government, unlike other early childhood teachers. Even so, she said she was worried by the government's changes to pay parity and to early childhood regulations. "It feels like for early childhood we are having the same challenges as what we've had years ago. The pay equity, pay parity, teacher supply. It feels like we never get to the stage where we can future-proof," she said. "It feels like we're just going back in time and having the same arguments all over again." Wilson said enrolments were good across the organisation's kindergartens but there were more centres competing for enrolments. "In the past we might have had three or four really strong ECE services, not all kindergartens, but now we've got 10 services in the same area all trying to capture the same children," she said. Wilson said one of the biggest challenges for the organisation was uncertainty about government funding from year to year was challenging. "For a non-profit organisation like Kidsfirst, our greatest source of revenue is government funding, we're heavily reliant on it and we suffer from the whims of whoever is in power at any given time in terms of the funding we receive," she said. Wilson said the supply of qualified teachers was a problem, especially in the regions, and there was a sense of exhaustion and frustration in the sector.
Zawya
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
Parent app hosts groundbreaking panel on AI and the future of early childhood education in the UAE
Integration of AI in early childhood education and UAE's new national AI curriculum initiative. Opportunities and risks of AI, including early intervention and ethical concerns. The importance of educator training, leadership, and AI literacy in schools. Balancing technology with play-based learning and emotional connection. KHDA Arabic Language Mandate in Early Years Dubai, UAE – Parent App, a leading platform transforming communication and management in early childhood centers, recently hosted an insightful panel discussion at the Hilton DoubleTree Hotel in Business Bay - Dubai, to provide a well needed platform for engaging conversations and sharing best event brought together nursery owners, center leaders, early years practitioners, pediatric healthcare professionals, parenting experts, media personalities, and policymakers, including government representatives to explore the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in early childhood education and the UAE's new national AI curriculum initiative. Strategically moderated by Dana Alqinneh – Head of Pedagogy at Parent, early childhood educator and curriculum consultant, panelists explored both the pros and cons of using AI in early childhood education. ECEs and nurseries have become the "village" that is essential for the development of young children, as introduced by Nadine Moussallem, Chief Marketing Officer at Parent currently driving growth in the childcare technology sector. 'As AI becomes part of early learning environments, educators face the important task of introducing children not just to technology, she stated, but to the ethical understanding of how it interacts with the world around them, planting the seeds for digital citizenship and responsible tech use.' Panelists emphasized that for AI integration to be meaningful and developmentally appropriate, key hurdles must be addressed—including shifting mindsets, updating classroom practices, and developing supportive policies. Exploring the UAE Government's New Initiative on a National AI Curriculum: The UAE government recently unveiled its new progressive initiative focused on integrating AI into national curricula, as early as kindergarten. On the positive side, AI was highlighted for its potential to enhance teaching and learning through data-driven insights, helping identify early signs of developmental challenges and supporting personalized learning approaches. It also has the potential to streamline administrative tasks, allowing practitioners more time to focus on nurturing children, as stated by panelist Samina Khanyari, General Manager of Jumeirah International Nurseries who is focused on implementing innovative educational practices and fostering strong parent-centre partnerships across multiple sites. According to the App, AI can also play a key role in early intervention. 'Artificial intelligence in early childhood education can support early intervention by detecting behavioral changes—such as reduced eye contact—through image analysis, enhancing developmental monitoring.' revealed Firas El Bizri, CEO of Parent App. 'While AI can help identify patterns or early warning signs, it is essential that it doesn't undermine the expertise and instinct of educators who are trained to make decisions based on body language, cues, and connection with the children,' stressed a pediatric healthcare professional from the audience. Panelist Patricia Mezu, founder and director of Professional Minds MEA, also mentioned 'bias' when it comes to AI analyzing such data, and whether or not we could be exposing children to biased pathways of intervention. Samina Khanyari highlighted AI's potential to assist educators with administrative tasks like tagging children in photos or refining parent-teacher communication, allowing more time to focus on nurturing children. AI insights are now helping nurseries streamline workloads, improving mental health in an industry with high liability in hopes to reduce the staff turnovers, a key issue highlighted by Parent App's data analysis. She also discussed the importance of aligning AI tools with developmental goals: 'AI-powered tools in nurseries can assist with routine management, from tracking naptimes to predicting tantrums, improving classroom dynamics and educator response.' From an educational leadership perspective, 'it extends beyond just the implementation of AI technologies; it involves recruitment of the right professionals and ensuring these educators receive comprehensive training in how to use these tools effectively,' noted Emma Jayne Morgan, general manager of Quest/EYES who supports early years teams in delivering excellence in learning environments and child-centered care. She stressed the importance of dedicating budgets on educator training which is as important as necessities like rent, water and electricity. Ethical considerations, data privacy, and the fear of AI being used to analyze children without human oversight were also discussed with Firas, highlighting the risks posed by using cheap or free AI tools that may have lower security. Patricia Mezu, who is a leadership specialist and advises early childhood leaders on regulatory compliance and safe learning frameworks, stressed the importance of incorporating safeguarding and leadership mindsets into inspection standards within early childhood education. Arabic Language Mandate: Preserving Cultural Identity The panel also explored a new mandate by the UAE government requiring that 33% of weekly instruction in early childhood settings be delivered in Arabic. To implement this, nurseries will adopt the 'one teacher, one language' model—mirroring the 'one parent, one language' concept—where each educator speaks exclusively in one language, such as Arabic or English, without switching between the two in the same classroom. Research shows that a child needs to hear a word 65 to 85 times for it to become embedded in their vocabulary, making language consistency crucial. Panelist Reem Madkour, Author, and Co-founder of Dardasha and The Arab Child Summit, advocates for children's rights and empowers Arab communities and parents to take back their identity, through her narratives, innovative resources, and initiatives around the U.A.E. She emphasized the importance of connecting with the Arabic language through everyday activities like cooking, music, play, and family traditions rather than sticking to formal learning. 'We need to teach life in Arabic, not just Arabic as a language,' she added. As the discussion concluded, one message stood out clearly: AI is not a creator—it gathers and processes information from external sources but does not generate original thought or replace human insight. To ensure responsible integration, AI should be viewed as a tool—an assistant and facilitator, not a decision-maker. As the education sector continues to embrace innovation, Parent encourages continued discussion, research, and partnership to ensure that technology enhances—rather than replaces—the human connections at the heart of early learning. About Parent App: Founded in 2015 by Firas El Bizri, Parent is a leading childcare management platform designed to connect and empower early education providers. With over 20 years of experience in the tech industry, Firas brought a vision of simplifying childcare operations through smart, user-friendly digital tools. What began as a simple communication tool has evolved into a trusted solution used by daycare centers, nurseries, and preschools around the world. Parent helps reduce administrative work, streamline documentation, and enhance parent engagement through real-time updates—allowing educators to focus on what matters most: supporting children's growth and development. For more info visit: For Press inquiries, please contact: Houry S. Maljian Founder, PR and Brand Communication Consultant Email: houry@
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Cherokee Nation opens new state-of-the-art Jay Head Start facility
JAY, Okla. — Cherokee Nation recently invested $6.5 million into the tribe's youngest citizens in Delaware County. The new state-of-the-art Jay Head Start Center was celebrated on May 22. The Cherokee Nation established its Head Start program in 1978, and has served more than 900 children. 'Not only does this program help kids, but I've also seen it help mothers who've reached for continuing education after seeing what these children need. The first Head Start in Jay was in an old American Legion building, so comparing that structure to this is unmeasurable.' District 10 Councilor Melvina Shotpouch The 9,300-square-foot facility includes office space, a conference room, two Head Start classrooms, a large outdoor playground, and an indoor gross motor room. The gross motor room serves as a shelter during inclement weather with a FEMA-rated tornado shelter. A rooftop garden is also featured in the project. 'Today, our Nation is celebrating a major investment into the future. The Council of the Cherokee Nation will always have the back of our children. We will continue to follow in the steps of our ancestors, who made major investments into education after removal.' Cherokee Nation Council Speaker Mike Shambaugh. 'Studies show that for every $1 invested in Head Start, we see as much as $9 in societal benefits,' said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. He said that an investment by the Cherokee Nation into early childhood education 'signals that our nation's best days are ahead of us, not behind us. ' The Verna D. Thompson Early Childhood Education Act provided funding for the Jay project. In 2024, Chief Hoskin reauthorized the Act with support from the Council of the Cherokee Nation. The legislation doubled the tribe's investment in Head Start construction from $40 million to $80 million to replace or rehabilitate all of the tribe's Head Start centers with new, state-of-the-art facilities. In November of 2024, the tribe celebrated its first project completion under the landmark legislation with the new Nowata Head Start building. Other Head Start facilities completed through the project will include Tahlequah, Stilwell (combining two facilities in the area), Salina, Pryor/MidAmerica Industrial Park, and Kenwood. The federal Head Start program was established in 1965 and is celebrating its 60th anniversary in May 2025. Head Start serves more than 40 million children and families across the U.S., and more than half of the Head Starts in the U.S. are located in rural communities. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
