1/03/2024
Susan Bates
[FYI request #25601 email]
Tēnā koe Susan
OIA: 1322307 – CEGAP Members and Criteria
Thank you for your email of 2 February 2024 to the Ministry of Education (the Ministry) requesting
the fol owing information regarding the recent CEGAP Panel created as part of the Regulations
Review in Early Childhood Education:
1. How many responses did the Ministry receive when it cal ed for participants?
2. Who were those respondents (or at least the organisations they represented)?
3. What was the criteria for selecting those who were ultimately appointed?
Your request has been considered under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act).
To be considered for centre design, environmental factors and group size advisory panel (CEGAP)
participation, respondents were required to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) form via the
Ministry website. In total, the Ministry received 33 responses to its cal for CEGAP participants.
Regarding question two of your request, the Ministry considers there to be an expectation that the
identities of those who submitted EOI forms for CEGAP participation be kept confidential. This is to
maintain the privacy of individuals and to ensure that respondents to future Ministry advisory
groups are not disincentivised by the risk of their identities being publicised if they are
unsuccessful. Sharing the names of respondents’ organisations may enable the identity of those
respondents to be deduced, particularly where those organisations have limited membership. I am
therefore withholding the information for this part of your request under section 9(2)(ba)(i ) of the
Act, to protect information which is subject to an obligation of confidence, where the making
available of the information would be likely otherwise to damage the public interest. You may be
aware that the names and organisations of successful respondents are published on the Ministry’s
website at the fol owing link: https://www.education.govt.nz/early-childhood/licensing-and-
regulations/the-regulatory-framework-for-ece/early-learning-regulatory-review/.
Regarding question three of your request, the Ministry considered a range of factors when
determining CEGAP appointments. These were noted in the CEGAP EOI form and are provided
below:
Wel ington National Office, 1 The Terrace, Levels 5 to 14, Wellington 6011
PO Box 1666, Wellington 6140, DX SR51201 Phone: +64 4 463 8000
Evidence and examples of relevant expertise, including technical, educational, academic,
and cultural expertise. Preference was given to respondents with expertise across multiple
strands, or an exceptional y high level of expertise in a single strand.
Diverse sector representation, including current and former teachers, centre managers and
owners, academics, researchers, and relevant industry experts.
Wil ingness to contribute towards evidence-informed recommendations that support the
development of guidance for early childhood services.
Factors were not considered in isolation, but alongside the qualities of other respondents to
facilitate a diverse range of expertise and experiences on CEGAP.
As required under section 9(1) of the Act, I have considered the public interest in releasing the
information withheld. I do not consider the public interest considerations favouring the release of
this information are sufficient to outweigh the need to withhold it at this time.
Please note, we may publish this response on our website after five working days. Your name and
contact details wil be removed.
I hope the above information is of use to you. Thank you again for your email. You have the right to
ask an Ombudsman to review my decision on your request, in accordance with section 28 of the
Act. You can do this by writing to [email address] or to Office of the Ombudsman,
PO Box 10152, Wel ington 6143.
Nāku noa, nā
Paul Scholey
Senior Policy Manager
Te Pou Kaupapahere | Policy
OIA: 1322307
