Future Directions: Shaping Early Childhood Education Policy for the 21st Century – A Personal Perspective

Abstract

The report of the Early Childhood Education Project Future Directions: Early Childhood Education in New Zealand was launched in September, 1996. The report “focuses on the structures and funding required to deliver high quality education services for young children” (Early Childhood Education Project, 1996a, p. 2). This article briefly describes the context within which the project was initiated. It outlines the aims of the project, the process undertaken to develop the report and highlights its key findings, goals and recommendations. This article sets out NZEI Te Riu Roa’s strategy in promoting the report and concludes with a broad overview of the impact of the report in shaping government policy direction.