The Government is being accused of robbing Peter to pay Paul with a $91.8 million boost in funding to increase participation in early childhood education in Waitakere and Northland.
The New Zealand Educational Institute says any increase in enrolments could be cancelled out by funding cuts coming into effect next year.
Education Minister Anne Tolley says the funding will target the 25% of children who do not currently attend any form of early childhood education in Waitakere or Northland.
She says it will be used to fund community playgroups, as well as home-based initiatives, in an effort to attract families into early childhood programmes.
But NZEI vice-president Judith Nowotarski says the Government's policy is inconsistent. With funding cuts to the sector announced in the Budget, she says, it is giving with one hand but taking with the other.
