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Govt Rejects Preschool Reform, But Nats Keep Fighting

The Nationals have maintained their strong stance on the future of kindergartens in Victoria, calling on the Bracks Government to recognise and value preschool education – although apparently to little avail at this stage.

By Peter Hall - 8th October 2004 - Back to News

Nationals’ Spokesperson for Education and Training, Gippsland MP Peter Hall, led a debate in Parliament this week, putting a motion that, in part, called for pay parity between preschool and primary school teachers.

The motion also called on the Government to recognise that preschool is an important educational experience by moving responsibility for preschools to the Department of Education and Training, and to make a special effort to attract and retain more preschool teachers to tackle teacher shortages, especially in rural areas.

"The Nationals have been and will continue to be very strong in support of pre-schools, which are an important part of a child’s formal education, rather than just a child care service," Mr Hall said.

"I had hoped that the Government would recognise preschool teachers as teachers in their own right, however I’m extremely disappointed that Government members in the Upper House chose to reject the motion."

Mr Hall said, however, the Nationals would continue to push for a fair deal for preschool teachers.

"I cautiously welcome the Government’s decision to reopen the lines of communication with teachers, and its acknowledgement that there are problems affecting majority of the 1800 preschools across state."

Mr Hall told the Parliament that the deterrents to pursuing a career in preschool teaching, as opposed to a career in primary teaching – including a 10 percent difference in starting salary and less security of employment tenure – had led to the current crisis, especially in rural areas.

The Nationals also raised the issue of affordability for families. A recent Australian Education Union Inquiry revealed that around 4,000 children in Victoria missed out on a place in pre-schools because the families could not afford the fees.

Outside Parliament, he said there was little doubt that the preschool system in Victoria is in an extremely vulnerable state, with teacher shortages expected to get even worse as the divide between kindergarten and primary school teachers’ wages continues to widen.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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