School start age debate

INDEPENDENT MLCs, who hold the key to the State Government’s proposal to lower the school starting age, are eagerly awaiting a report into the social and economic impact of the change.

Meanwhile, the union representing the childcare sector is continuing its campaign against the proposal, with another community forum planned for next month.

United Voice Tasmanian secretary Jeannette Armstrong said parents and those involved in the childcare sector were “still feeling frustrated” and were concerned the change was being treated as a fait accompli, when “there’s still a process to go through.”

Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff said the Government’s implementation plan for intro- ducing a voluntary school starting age of 4½ for Prep would be provided by the September 1 deadline.

“The changes to the voluntary starting age will not be implemented until such time as an implementation plan, which takes into account the impacts of the change on the early childhood education and care sector, has been passed by the Parliament,” he said.

Apsley MLC Tania Rattray said she would not support the change.

Murchison MLC Ruth Forrest said she continued to have concerns about the change.

Ms Forrest said other options for helping families give their children earlier access to education should be considered, such as providing funding for lower socio-economic families to access child care.

Huon MLC Robert Armstrong said he was worried about the viability of childcare centres in his electorate.

Windermere MLC Ivan Dean said he wanted to understand the full impact on the childcare sector before making a decision, but he said families in his electorate could not afford child care and supported a lower school starting age.

Rosevears MLC Kerry Finch and Hobart MLC Rob Valentine both said they were keeping an open mind.

Mr Rockliff said the change to the school starting age was important because it would give children who did not have access to early learning a chance to do so.

“Earlier voluntary access to education will provide all Tasmanian children the option to access quality play-based learning sooner,” he said.

“Not every family can access or afford child care or private education.”