摘要：

This UNESCO-supported case study report documents aspects of New Zealand's integration of the administrative auspices for early childhood care and education (ECCE) into the national education authority, the Department/Ministry of Education. The report is presented in nine sections. Following the introductory section providing a historical overview of early childhood education in New Zealand and describing early childhood services and shifts in their administration, Section 2 outlines the content prior to the decision to integrate ECCE administration into one department, thereby providing the context to give child care the same government support as ECCE services. Section 3 details the rationale for the administrative integration of ECCE. Section 4 presents the processes involved in administrative integration at the national level. Section 5 describes the processes for implementing the three major changes involved in administrative integration: (1) transfer of administrative responsibilities; (2) integrated training programs; and (3) Before Five policies. Section 6 outlines further developments following the administrative transfer of child care to the Department of Education, including the transfer of administration of the Maori language immersion centers from the Department of Maori Affairs to the Ministry of Education and the expansion of post-graduate early childhood study. Section 7 discusses the impact and subsequent developments of administrative integration, including increased participation in ECCE services, increasing concerns about program quality, and development of a strategic plan for early childhood education by the Labour party. Section 8 discusses remaining issues and challenges, including improving the coordination across ministries, achieving even-handedness by the two government funders of ECCE, and improving policy coherence for ECCE services. (Contains 69 references.) (KB)

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