Te Tari Puna Ora announces centre-based degree to be offered in 14 locations from next year

Here's some good news from Te Tari Puna Ora o Aotearoa. It's great that the sector is still committed to a well qualified workforce even if the government isn't. This means that a degree will be available by face-to-face teaching for the first time in many of these centres.

New early childhood degree offered in 14 regions across NZ

Early childhood education needs well qualified and well-prepared
teachers says Te Tari Puna Ora o Aotearoa / NZ Childcare Association
(NZCA) Chief Executive Nancy Bell, as they ready for the launch
of their new Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education)
in 14 regions from Kaitaia to Dunedin.

“NZCA has been an established national provider of level 7
teacher education diplomas for many years. However, teachers
increasingly see a degree as the entry level to their profession.
An early childhood degree brings teachers into line with their
primary and secondary counterparts.”

“As well as including the international theory and research
underpinning the field, our degree has a unique Aotearoa focus
which brings Māori and Pasifika knowledge to the foreground.
Students learn while they work in centres, maintaining a strong
relationship between theory and practice so our graduates are
highly employable” says Nancy. “All of NZCA’s programmes
are delivered on day-release schedule, students work four days
a week and attend classes on one day with assignments completed
outside of class.”

“ECE teachers need a qualification that is research informed
if they are to stay up-to-date with the current thinking in early
education. Many go on to higher degrees and we need this capability
in a sector which currently serves over 180,000 children.”

“We are very proud to be able to offer this qualification in
Kaitaia. We want to offer the opportunity for students to study
face-to-face just about anywhere in the country. Students are
inspired by the commitment of our organisation to high quality
ECE and the feeling that together we are making a difference
for young children, they find our lecturers passionate and knowledgeable
and our classes supportive and welcoming.”

NZCA’s Academic Leader for the new Bachelor of Teaching, Lesley
Rameka is very impressed with the qualification, “the degree
is an amazing programme that is perfectly suited to New Zealand’s
unique cultural landscape.”

Studying at one of NZCA’s 14 regional teaching bases is a great
way to get qualified says Nancy, “Our well appointed teaching
bases offer intimate class sizes, and a welcoming supportive
learning environment. Students can access library and learning
resources online 24/7 via our e-learning site.”

“We expect to take around 300 applicants nationwide into the
first year with classes starting across the country from February
2011. Competition for places will be high despite the recent
ECE funding changes.”

Applications for the Bachelor of Teaching (ECE) open on the 1st
September. For more information on applying to study in 2011,
call 0800 CHILDCARE or visit www.nzca.ac.nz