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Importance of investing in early childhood highlighted

» 15/08/2011, Posted by Site Admin

'Every Child Counts' has released a report prepared for them by Infometrics Ltd, called '1000 days to get it right for every child: The effectiveness of public investment in New Zealand children'.

The report links New Zealand's poor performance in terms of outcomes for children (28th out of 30 countries in the OECD) to NZ also having one of the lowest rates of public investment in children in the OECD (less than half the average public spend per child under the age of 6 years), and suggests that the investment NZ does make is not effective.

The report provides an economic analysis that shows the downstream costs that result from NZ not investing adequately in early childhood, suggesting that the cost at least 3 percent of GDP, or $6bn per annum.

The report is attached, and is also available from:
http://www.everychildcounts.org.nz/news/1000-days-to-get-it-right-for-every-child-poor-child-outcomes-costing-the-nation-billions/

Further information about 'Every Child Counts' is also available on their website at: http://www.everychildcounts.org.nz/

Among other media commentary, audio of an interview about the report on Radio NZ's Morning Report is available for download from the Radio NZ website at: http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport
under the heading: 'Child advocates say NZ children have bleakest future in OECD'