Education ministry calls for feedback on early learning strategic plan

DUNEDIN residents will have an opportunity to have a say on the Ministry of Education’s draft early learning strategic plan during a public consultation event on Monday.

The event at the Edgar Centre is one of many around the country which are open to families, teachers, service providers, educators and the wider community to discuss the suggested changes and the timeline for introducing them.

The ministry’s early learning draft plan has been developed by a ministerial advisory group, a larger reference group that includes sector stakeholders and the ministry.

A ministry spokeswoman said ministerial advisory group chairwoman Dr Carmen Dalli would be at the event to talk about the work that went into developing the plan and about the research and international comparisons they looked at.

An early learning online survey, the findings of the Education Summits and the broader Education Conversation, other work being undertaken in the education portfolio and the latest research have all contributed to the draft plan’s development. The new strategic plan aims to set the direction and vision for early learning for the next 10 years.

Once finalised, the plan will set out a planned approach to develop and strengthen the early learning sector to meet the needs of all children and their families and whanau.