ACT Minister for Education and Training Joy Burch today welcomed the Abbott government’s decision to continue funding for preschools for the 2015 school year.
The National Partnership Agreement on Universal Access to Early Childhood Education expires in December this year and until today there was no certainty that the funding would be extended.
The ACT Legislative Assembly voted unanimously three weeks ago in favour of a motion calling on the Abbott Government to commit to continuing funding.
That same week, state and territory ministers demanded certainty from federal Assistant Minister for Education Sussan Ley at the Education Council meeting.
“I am delighted that Ms Ley has finally heeded the calls from her state and territory colleagues and the Legislative Assembly and provided certainty for families with preschoolers by extending current national partnership arrangements for 12 months,” Ms Burch said.
“I also note that she refers to new arrangements under which this funding will be extended to all types of accredited preschool programs, including those in long day care centres.
“I look forward to seeing details of the increased funding from the Commonwealth to fund this extension.
“Evidence shows that students who attend preschool have significantly better literacy and numeracy outcomes throughout their school career.
“The ACT Government has been providing 15 hours of free preschool a week under the National Partnership, allowing families to arrange their work schedules and providing jobs for early childhood educators.
“Without continued federal funding, the ACT would not have been able to sustain 15 hours a week, which would have hit every family with a preschool age child and put jobs at risk.
“I was concerned that the failure to renew this agreement would leave parents scrambling at the last minute to find paid childcare to replace those hours lost in preschool. I am pleased to see Ms Ley’s announcement and look forward to hearing further details of the funding.”
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