Parents push for preschool reform

By Paul Dunlop
PRESCHOOLS are at the crossroads and in desperate need of reform.
That’s the message from local mums and dads mounting a bid for change.
Parents are concerned that problems within the preschool system are putting their children’s early education at risk.
They claim the State Government did not appear to value preschools as the first step in education and a critical component in setting children up to ‘learn for life’.
A delegation of parents and teachers met on Monday to pass on their concerns to Gembrook MP Tammy Lobato.
Upper Beaconsfield PreSchool committee president Cherylle Hampton is leading the local push for change.
She said parents and teachers were extremely concerned about the direction in which preschools were being taken.
“Basically, they are not getting the recognition they deserve,” Mrs Hampton said.
Parents and teachers discussed their concerns with Ms Lobato for more than an hour.
Mrs Hampton said the preschool system was under threat on a number of fronts. Chief among her concerns were:
LACK of qualified teaching staff.
TEACHERS moving to primary teaching roles because they were “fed up” with the lack of recognition and resources.
MANAGEMENT committees overburdened with the workload required to run preschools administration, staffing, management, fund raising, enrolments and fee collection.
Mrs Hampton said the State Government should move responsibility for preschools out of the Department of Human Services and into the Department of Education.
“Basically, they do not see preschool as the first step in education,” she said.
“Every other state in Australia except New South Wales has preschools as part of their Education Department. Victoria is moving backwards.
“All of the research from around the world shows preschool as a critical part of the education process.”
Parents from preschools at Bunyip and Pakenham were part of the delegation and echoed Mrs Hampton’s concerns.
Upper Beaconsfield Primary School principal Gordon Atkin said it made sense to have preschools and primary schools under the same umbrella.
Mrs Hampton said she was concerned the State Government seemed to be pushing preschool services into privately owned childcare centres.
She said preschool teachers were undervalued.
“They have incredible workloads, have to put up with changing committees of management each year and have inferior pay to primary teachers even though they are equally qualified,” she said.
“Many teachers continue in the system because they are dedicated and care about the children’s future. However many are also completely frustrated and burned out.”
Ms Lobato said she empathised with parents’ concerns and pledged to raise the issue with the appropriate departments of the State Government.
She agreed to present a petition to Parliament that calls for urgent reform to the preschool system.
Ms Lobato said she was concerned there was a shortage of teachers and believed the preschool system should be regarded as very different to child care.
“I certainly value the work done in preschools and will work to ensure their longterm viability,” she said.
Ms Lobato said teachers and parents did a fantastic job and encouraged people with concerns to “work with the government, not against it”.