Transformative shifts in early childhood education systems after four decades of neoliberalism

Abstract

Aotearoa New Zealand’s policy shifts to an integrated system of early childhood education (ECE), its development of a bicultural curriculum for all children from birth to five years, and its progress towards a fully qualified, equitably paid, ECE teaching workforce, have partially transformed the ECE system. But there is still much to do. Four decades of neoliberalism have led to the rise of financialised corporate ECE, and weakened the sustainability of community and public provision. This paper analyses the people, politics and processes that facilitated and hindered reform, and proposes policy measures needed to make substantive transformations to a high quality, public and democratic ECE system.