Andrea Dawkins MP | Greens Education spokesperson
Public concern is growing over the Liberal Government's plan to lower the mandatory school starting age.
The Greens' research to date confirms the evidence base for an earlier starting age is weak. On that basis, we will not support this change to the Education Act.
We believe the money can be better spent directed to Child and Family Centres, particularly targeting at-risk children and families.
As an alternative to a lower school starting age, the Greens will roll out 11 new Child and Family Centres in priority locations around Tasmania.
Child and Family Centres build the bridge between family and school, and are already a proven success. They create a space for parents and children to begin their educational path through play-based learning.
Child and Family Centres provide a space for parents and children to access programs like Launch into Learning and professional services, such as psychologists, nutritionists and speech pathologists. They provide the kind of support a child from a less advantaged community needs before entering the school environment.
Our costed policy initiative will significantly expand on the social infrastructure already in place to help lift Tasmania's educational outcomes within a generation.
This is the first in a series of policy initiatives the Greens will be releasing between now and the next State election.
