Party promises free pre-school

6:11 pm on 19 February 2017

The Opportunities Party says it will push for three and four-year-olds to get free fulltime early childhood care, if it is elected.

Mt Albert candidate for the party, Geoff Simmons speaks at The Opportunities Party’s education policy announcement and Mount Albert Grammar. Sunday 19 February 2017.

Mt Albert candidate Geoff Simmons speaks at The Opportunities Party's education policy announcement at Mount Albert Grammar. Photo: RNZ / Eva Corlett

The party announced its education policy at Mount Albert Grammar in Auckland today.

Its policy includes reducing assessments, encouraging inter-school collaboration, removing the decile system, requiring teachers to have a masters degree and a tertiary sector review.

Party founder Gareth Morgan said the availabilty and accessibility of early childhood care needed improving, especially for those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Mr Morgan said children were entering school unprepared, which condemned them to lives of disadvantage.

He said the funding breakdown would not be available until the party's seventh policy announcement.