EARLY childhood associations have raised concerns about the proposal to lower the school starting age for Tasmanian children.
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However, Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff has hit back at concerns, saying it is estimated that the change could increase the number of three and four year olds accessing early learning by up to 77 per cent.
Premier Will Hodgman announced on Wednesday that the Liberal government intends to legislate to change the compulsory minimum age for pupils starting prep to four years and six months - six months earlier than they currently do - and raise the leaving age to the completion of year 12, a certificate III, or when a student turns 18 years old, whichever occurs first.
Students can currently leave when they are 17.
If legislated, proposed changes will come into effect from 2020.
Mr Rockliff said lowering the minimum starting age would ensure more Tasmanians can access early learning.
``As it stands almost half of our children miss out on high quality learning experiences at a young age because not every family can afford child care or private education,'' he said.
``This is an issue of equity. We must break this cycle of disadvantage and ensure all Tasmanians have access to quality education, no matter how much their family earns.''
The Tasmanian branch of Early Childhood Australia said on Thursday that it cannot support the change to the school starting age and that it was ''extremely disappointed at the decision''.
``The change to the starting age, even in 2020, will have a significant impact on the early education and care sector,'' ECA Tasmania president Annette Barwick said.
She said jobs would be lost and questioned whether all early childhood teachers in school settings would be required to hold current and specialised qualifications for their unique role.
“Although the documentation will mention compulsory school, a high percentage of Tasmanian children access Kindergarten – a non-compulsory year – and this change equates to children as young as three years, six months being integrated into a school environment,'' Ms Barwick said.
“It is not only about the ‘school-readiness’ of children, but are Tasmanian schools ready for the child in terms of pedagogy and structural requirements?''
United Voice Tasmania secretary Jannette Armstrong said the early education union welcomed the general principle of lowering the school starting age, but did not think it was the best solution.
``Children should be accessing high quality early learning environment, but those should be play-based and age appropriate,'' Ms Armstrong said.
``Not only is it (lowering the start age) not in the best interest of children, it will have a really big impact on the childcare sector in Tasmania.
``By taking out a cohort of children that access those services, it may mean that those services end up being completely unviable and they'll have to close down completely.''
Ms Armstrong said instead we should be making existing child care services more affordable and accessible.
Tasmanian Association of State Schools president Ant Dry said if parents considered that their child was too young for school, they could appeal the compulsory age limits.