Parents aim to shift control

By Sarah Thompson
PARENTS of Beaconsfield preschoolers last week launched a statewide petition to improve the state of Victoria’s preschool system.
They hope to beat the Victorian record of 65,000 signatures in an appeal to move the preschool system from the Department of Human Services to the Department of Education and Training.
The petition was launched during a forum held last Thursday night, that discussed the situation of preschools in Victoria.
“As society changes and the demands on our time change, we must remember the critical needs our children have for the best start in education to improve their life chances,” Parents for Preschool Education (PFPE) spokeswoman Cherylle Hampton said.
Mrs Hampton said studies had shown that preschool was the most critical first step in education, and without it children could spend many years trying to catch up in the school system.
“The meeting provided further confirmation that all of the experts, all of the people working at the front line and parents in the community, agree that the system is failing and based on world’s best practice the responsibility for preschools, for learning from the beginning, should be managed by one department, the Department of Education and Training,” she said.
Tim Mitchell, spokesman Education and Training Minister Lynne Kosky, said the State Government was firm on its decision that preschools would stay in the Department of Human Services.
“This has been a debate going on for some time.
“Government made a decision that preschool is exactly that,” Mr Mitchell said.
Bass MP Ken Smith, one of three local politicians to attend the meeting, said the Liberal Party was looking at forming a policy to improve preschool education.
“I personally support what they (PFPE) are doing as I think preschooling is an important part of education. We don’t have a policy in the Liberal Party, but we are looking at it.”
“People will know where we stand before the next election,” Mr Smith said.
Australian Education Union early childhood vicepresident Rosalie Kinson said the union had been pursuing the issue of preschool education for four years and would continue to campaign in the runup to this year’s election.
“It’s very important the parents’ voices are heard on this issue,” she said.
For further information about the petition, residents can email PFPE at osellaoptusnet.com.au.