But their pay lags behind kindergarten and primary teachers with the same skills, qualifications and responsibilities. That's not OK.
If we want Aotearoa to be the best place in the world to raise a child, valuing all of the teachers that work with them is a great place to start. We're asking the government to act now and fix the gap.
The Government has signalled reforms for ECE which would take us backwards, so take action now!
We're working towards better pay and conditions across the board in the early childhood education (ECE) sector. You can:
The number one issue raised by kaiako and kaimahi working in ECE is the inadequate levels of ratios and staffing. We are calling on all political parties to support urgent implementation of better ratios in ECE.
If we improve ECE ratios we will be well on the way to solving the issues of funding, workload, learning support for ākonga and the wellbeing of kaiako and kaimahi.
Right now, there’s a crisis in ECE. Low pay and underfunding mean thousands of teachers are leaving the profession every year. There’s a critical shortage of qualified ECE teachers. We’ve got more of our children in ECE than ever before, but there are fewer people training to be ECE teachers than 10 years ago. We aren’t keeping and attracting great teachers.
ECE teachers are asking the Government to urgently invest in our youngest children. We urgently need to fix the pay gap and fund services to provide quality care and education.
Every child, no matter where they live or how much their parents earn should have access to quality ECE services that suit their needs and community. Every teacher, no matter what age children they work with, is a teacher.
Parents need access to affordable quality care. Investing in ECE is the best investment we can make to ensure the future success of Aotearoa. Our children are the future.
Take a look at our current campaigns and find out how you can get involved.
NZEI Te Riu Roa is committed to the protection and upholding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We believe in the power of unity and the importance of working together to ensure that the rights and interests of our members, and all Māori, are respected and advanced.
The pay equity claim for teachers is currently underway. It is about addressing the historic and current undervaluation in both pay and status in roles that society has perceived to be ‘women’s work’. The process determines if there has been undervaluation and if so, this is corrected. All teachers and principals working in schools, kindergartens and education and care settings are covered by the claim, regardless of gender.
Initial Teacher Education (ITE) plays a vital role in our education system, preparing future teachers with the knowledge and skills they need to begin teaching.
Studying to become an educator? In your first 5 years of teaching? Te Kupenga Rangatahi (New Educators Network) is a great way to make sure you get the best start to your teaching career.
The 2025 scholarship applications round opened in February 2024 and close on Friday 10th May 2024. To learn more about the application process, what to expect and how to write a good application, check out the article linked below.
The largest survey of the early childhood sector in Aotearoa in recent years, Kōriporipo, shines a light on the immense pressures facing ECE kaiako and kaimahi and makes recommendations that could transform the sector.