Anne Tolley

Wellington, Nov 25 NZPA - A requirement for early childhood education (ECE) providers to work towards having all staff qualify as teachers has been dropped.

Education Ministry chief executive Karen Sewell confirmed the change when she appeared before Parliament's education select committee this morning.

Education Minister Anne Tolley in October extended the period from 2010 to 2012 in which providers needed to have 80 percent of their teachers registered.

Labour MP Sue Moroney today asked what had happened to the 100 percent target which her party had set when in government for 2012.

"That is now not a requirement... It's gone," Ms Sewell said.

She admitted the sector was not consulted about the move but the ministry did get feedback.

"They would have wanted the 100 percent to stay."

Providers were told about the move in a frequently asked questions section on the ministry website.

"It's one of our normal ways of communicating with both the schools and early childhood sectors -- through the website."

Ministry group manager for ECE Karl Le Quesne said while only about 20 of the 4000 providers failed to meet the current 50 percent registered target, many would struggle to reach the 100 percent.

"The number at risk of meeting the 80 percent target was considerably higher than the number at risk of not meeting the 50 percent target."