The Education Act amendments came after Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff announced on Monday that the government would reverse its push to lower the school starting age. 

Mr Rockliff was calling for the voluntary starting age to be lowered to three years and six months for kindergarten students, but after significant backlash from the community and a KPMG report, he said it would remain at five years for prep students.

Monday’s decision was met with overall praise, and in Parliament on Thursday, the amendments to the act passed through the lower house. 

Mr Rockliff told Parliament that the early childhood education sector was vulnerable to future change, which had also impacted the government’s decision.

“Consultation on the implementation of the voluntary earlier school starting age overwhelmingly reflects that it is likely to have a significant negative impact on the [early childhood education and care] sector,” he said.

“The negative impact would generally be greater in rural and regional Tasmania.

“It is imperative that the original intent of the earlier school starting age to provide access to quality early learning is not lost.” 

Opposition education spokeswoman Michelle O’Byrne said the potential starting age changes had put a number of stakeholders under significant stress.

“Even if you didn't accept it, there was enough evidence to say you need to look at what the implications are for entering formal learning too early,” Ms O’Byrne said.

“I know a lot of people are very pleased and I’m very pleased too … but I don’t think we can walk away from the incredible pressure that people have been put under because this work wasn’t done in the first place. 

“A better announcement could have been ‘we’re going to now get those people together, these are the types of things we’re going to talk about with them’ and then announce a plan.” 

Greens education spokeswoman Andrea Dawkins said the government’s decision was the right course of action, but the reversal of the bill should act as a “cautionary tale” for the future.

“In this case, it’s been proven that the lack of consultation by this minister and this department has been to their determent,” Ms Dawkins told Parliament. 

“This government should have listened when the community said three-and-a-half is too young.

“We don’t believe schools are resourced well enough now let alone bringing in a new cohort of students with very particular needs.”