April 19, 2024
Early child braces for job cut impact
Te Rito Maioha Early Childhood New Zealand says job cuts at the Education Ministry will have a big impact on Māori.
Almost 600 jobs are set to go in the Government’s hunt for cash to fund its tax cuts, including 100 regional and frontline roles.
Nikki Parsons, the organisation’s general manager of learner & workforce engagement, says it makes no sense to cut people who play a critical role in supporting tamariki, especially those with disability or behaviour issues.
“They’ve signalled increased focus on education but cutting human resources just goes against everything they have been promising us and it’s critical we have those front line reporters to support our services and our schools,” she says.
Ms Parsons says many staff will take their skills to higher paid jobs in Australia, putting even more stress and pressure on those who remain.