Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff has backed away from controversial plans to lower the compulsory school starting age by six months.
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Mr Rockliff announced legislation tabled later this year would give parents the option to send children to prep from four and a half years, but the compulsory starting age would remain at five years.
He said lowering the starting age would have a “profound effect” on Tasmania’s prosperity.
“As it stands, Tasmanian children aren’t given the same opportunities as every other child in Australia,” Mr Rockliff said.
Labor education spokeswoman Michelle O’Byrne said the change would still result in an overwhelming majority of children starting school earlier.
“There’s no difference in practicality. We know that our parents send children along to kinder the moment they can because they think that is what’s best for their children, because otherwise why would the government offer it?,” she said.
Early Childhood Tasmania’s Ros Cornish said the proposed changes would lead to childcare centre closures and decisions about when a child started school becoming financially motivated.
“It will come down to parents deciding whether they want to pay for their children to stay in childcare for an extra six months or take the cheaper option and enrol them in school,” she said.
The government announced it had beefed up resourcing to complement the plan, with Mr Rockliff pledging $17 million of additional annual funding, as well as an annual $4.9 million payment to hire extra teacher assistants from 2020.
Bass Greens MHA Andrea Dawkins said the government changes would be “incredibly challenging” for teachers and confusing for parents, but liked the plan’s intent.
“I really like the idea of a staggered start to school but we have to make sure that it’s communicated clearly to parents what their options are,” she said.
Australian Education Union president Helen Richardson said the “flawed” plan was a recipe for confusion and uncertainty for schools.