Chapter 1 - Participation in Early Childhood Education

Quality early childhood programmes prepare young children socially, physically and academically for entry into primary education.  This chapter explores participation differences in early childhood education (ECE) of three and four year olds.

Key Findings

• Participation in ECE does not vary by gender.
• Māori and Pasifika students have lower rates of ECE participation. 

The apparent participation¹ of three and four year olds in ECE is not related to gender but there are some differences for ethnicity.  Figure 1 shows the apparent participation of three and four year old boys by ethnicity in ECE between 2001 and 2005.  The apparent participation is calculated based on the number of children enrolled in an ECE service compared to the projected population from Statistics NZ.²  Māori and Pasifika boys have lower participation rates than Pakeha/Asian/other combined (the other category shown in Figure 1).

Figure 1.  Apparent participation of three and four year old boys in early childhood education by ethnicity

Footnotes 

1. The measure overestimates participation because children enrolled in more than one early childhood centre will be double-counted.
2. Data supplied by Data Management and Analysis Division, Ministry of Education