Tasmania

I'm not sure about compulsory education for children as young as four. I'm not sure what this would do for the family. Interesting idea, however. It's also interesting to hear from the other side of the world.

Reaction To School Plan Is Positive
By LUCIE VAN DEN BERG
Saturday, 25 March 2006

A Federal Government proposal to force all four-year-olds to attend school has been greeted with optimism and caution in Tasmania.

An early childhood education expert from the University of Tasmania said the proposal may not make waves in the State as most parents already choose to send their four-year-old children to kindergarten. In Tasmania kindergarten is open to four-year-olds and school is only compulsory for children in the year they turn five.

University of Tasmania Early Childhood senior lecturer Margot Boardman said it was a positive step towards ensuring quality education for children.

Dr Boardman said studies had clearly shown that sending children to school from a young age impacted positively on their long- term education. "We rarely get a child who hasn't been exposed to kindergarten," Dr Boardman said. "The earlier you can get them into education the more chance they will have a good education and social outcome." Getting along with others, learning to communicate and the blueprint for literacy skills could be gained through early childhood education, Dr Boardman said.

She said preschool education could go some way to remedy learning problems that spring from low socio-economic backgrounds and social isolation. However she said it was not clear whether full-time education for children at this age would be appropriate.

Federal Education Minister Julie Bishop has said the uniform compulsory education programme would make sure childcare is taught by a qualified early childhood teacher. Dr Boardman said there was a significant difference between caring for a child and educating one. She also said pay and organisational arrangements would have to be examined carefully.

State Education Minister Paula Wriedt said high quality childcare and early schooling laid a strong foundation for a student's education. She said the Essential Learning curriculum supported a child's learning from birth and helped children make a smooth transition from early childhood into full-time education.