Preschool class sizes below State averageLatrobe City has refuted claims that its preschool group sizes By Latrobe City Council - 9th February 2001 - Back to News Latrobe City has refuted claims that its preschool group sizes are well above the State average.
Latrobe City Mayor, Councillor Hanning said the claims made in an Express article by Blundell Hall Preschool President Shirley Fromberg were incorrect, and in fact Latrobe performed extremely well.
“Preschool group sizes in Latrobe currently average 22.7 children. This is a far cry from the ‘around 30’ claimed in the article,” Councillor Hanning explained.
“Traralgon’s urban preschools average group size is 23.9 children. It is an irrefutable fact,” Councillor Hanning said.
“Council has a policy of allowing a maximum group size of 27 children in any preschool; so talking in terms of ‘around 30’ is in fact nonsense. There is no preschool group in Latrobe where that maximum of 27 children is exceeded,” Cr Hanning stressed.
“Claims made of a State average of 25 children per preschool group are also misleading. This was the approximate case in Victoria in 1994, but that was prior to the previous State Government’s funding cuts and changes. The most up-to-date figures quoted by the Australian Education Union, which were released in 1998 after the State Government changes, refer to State averages of 28 – 30 children.
“Latrobe in fact should be congratulated on its performance. Not only are preschool group sizes well below the State average, but are in actual fact below the claimed (though incorrect) 25 children.
Council has continually stressed its firm commitment to providing excellent and accessible pre-school services to all eligible children in the Latrobe community; and preschool group sizes of 22.7 children are an unquestionable indication that we are performing well on that account,” Cr Hanning concluded.
Media Enquiries:
Cr. Tony Hanning, Mayor, Latrobe City
tel. 0417 373 577
Cr. Brendan Jenkins, Deputy Mayor, Latrobe City
tel. 0417 374 590
Ms. Penny Holloway, Chief Executive Officer,
tel. 5173 1401 or 0417 557 103
Jeremy Bein, Public Relations and Communications Officer,
tel. 5173 1468
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: latrobecity@gippslander.com
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